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LIFE-SAVING CORPS AT WORK 


Frontispiece 
























AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 


BY 

JAMES OTIS 

AUTHOR OF “ TOBY TYLER,” ETC. 




JIP AND THE FIRE-ALARM ,—Page 4° 



A 


NEW YORK 


COPYRIGHT BY 

E. P. DUTTON & COMPANY 
31 West Twenty-third Street 
1898 


2nd COPY, 








8086 






























CONTENTS 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. THE AMATEUR.I 

II. ’LISH DAVIS.19 

III. Jip’s REVENGE.36 

IV. SAM THE DETECTIVE.54 

V. TARDY REPENTANCE.73 

VI. AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE.92 

VII. NEW LODGINGS.IIO 

viii. jip Collins’s retreat.127 

IX. THE UNIFORM.144 

X. AT HEADQUARTERS. . l6l 

xi. sam’s return .179 

XII. THE PRISONER.I96 

XIII. THE LETTER. 215 

XIV. THE SUBPCENA.233 

XV. THE TRIAL.25I 

XVI. WINNING A MEDAL.270 

XVII. THE BLOW-OUT.288 


XVIII 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL 


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ILLUSTRATIONS. 


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LIFE-SAVING CORPS AT WORK 

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Frontispiece 

’LISII DAVIS AND SETH .... 

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JIP COLLINS AND THE BOYS FROM BROOKLYN 

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JIP AND THE FIRE-ALARM— Title-page . 

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SETH CATCHES THE HORSE . 

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SAM GOING TO PHILADELPHIA 

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THE FIRE-ENGINE GOING OUT 

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SETH RESCUES THE BABY 

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THE BLOW-OUT . 





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PRESENTING THE MEDALS 

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AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 


CHAPTER I. 

THE AMATEUR. 

“ T AIN’T sayin’ as how I could run a whole fire, 

1 same as some of the chiefs do; but when it 
comes to drivin’ an engine, Dan Roberts, an’ doin’ 
it in time to get the first water, or layin’ hose, I 
would n’t knuckle down to the biggest man in the 
Department.” 

“Now see here, Seth Bartlett, what’s the sense of 
talkin’ that way ? It would be a good deal better, 
an’ I ain’t the only one who says it, if you ’d stick 
right to shinin’, an’ stop playin’ fireman, for that’s 
’bout the biggest part of the work you do.” 

“ Do you s’pose I count on shinin’ boots for a 
livin’ all my life ? ” 

“ You ’ve got to make a better fist at it than you 
have done for a year or more, else you ’ll never get 
into anythin’ else. I tell you what it is, Seth Bart¬ 
lett, when a man wants to hire a boy, he ain’t 
pickin’ out the feller that’s failed up two or three 



2 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


times over; but he generally looks for the one 
what ’s makin’ a go of it, whether it ’s shinin’ or 
sellin’ papers.” 

“ I ain’t sayin’ but you ’re right, Dan, an’ I 
s’pose it ’s a good thing for you to keep right on 
rememberin’; but it ’s different with me. I don’t 
count on any one man hirin’ me when I strike out 
for somethin’ better ’n shinin’.” 

“ Oh, you don’t, eh ? What little game have 
you got ? Goin’ to run a bank, or keep a hotel, or 
do somethin’ like that ? ” 

“ You think you ’re funny, but you ain’t. I ’m 
goin’ into the Fire Department when the right time 
comes, an’ don’t you make any mistake about it.” 

Dan laughed loud and long at this announcement, 
and Seth gazed at him in grim silence until the ex¬ 
plosion of mirth was somewhat subsided, when he 
said sharply: 

” I guess trade must have been pretty good with 
you to-day, else you would n’t be feelin’ so terrible 
funny.” 

“ Well, it has n’t. I got stuck on four Heralds 
this mornin’, an’ five Expresses to-night. That 
comes pretty near cleanin’ off all the profits, ’cause 
it’s awful dull nowadays in my business, Seth.” 

” Then I can’t guess why you got so dreadful 
silly when I said I was goin’ into the Department 
some day.” 


THE AMATEUR. 


3 


It would make anybody laugh, Seth, to hear a 
feller no bigger ’n you talk of such things. You 
must be a man to get that kind of a job.” 

“ Well, shan’t I be in time—and not such a ter¬ 
rible long while either ? I ’m fourteen now, least- 
ways, that ’s the way I figger it out, an’ if I could 
get one of them early spring moustaches like Sim 
Jepson is raisin’, folks would think I was a man 
when I was n’t only eighteen. Don’t you reckon 
all the firemen were boys once ? ” 

“ Yes,” Dan replied doubtfully, ” I s’pose they 
was,” and he added quickly as a sudden thought 
occurred to him, “ but they had to know a good 
deal about the business before they could get a 
job.” 

” Course they did, an’ it was a case of learnin’. 
That’s jest what I ’m doin’ when I tend out on 
fires. I’m gettin’ posted, an’ by an’ by when I’m 
old enough you ’ll see me in the Department, 
that’s all there is about it.” 

Seth Bartlett and Dan Roberts were old friends, 
having made each other’s acquaintance no less than 
three months previous, when the former, who had 
disagreed with Jip Collins on a matter regarding 
household affairs, was in search of a new roommate. 

Seth owned, or believed he did, certain rights in 
a small shed situate in the rear of Baxter Brothers’ 
carpenter shop, where he made his home. 


4 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


It was a rude affair, originally built for the pur¬ 
pose of sheltering Mr. Baxter’s horse and carriage, 
but afterward used as a storage place for such odds 
and ends as accumulate in a carpenter’s work¬ 
shop. 

Seth had made his home in this shed for nearly a 
year, having been given permission to sleep there 
by one of the owners on a certain cold, stormy 
night, and he was not averse to telling his friends 
how he “ worked the snap.” 

This is his version of what may perhaps be called 
a business transaction: 

“ I did start in to live with Jim Wardwell’s folks. 
You see, business was mighty good for a spell, an’ I 
got to feelin’ way up toney where nothin’ short of 
a reg’lar room would do me. I paid a dollar a week 
jest for sleepin’ there. Ten big, round plunks for 
ten weeks, an’ then I tumbled to myself! You see, 
it was too rich for my blood when there come a long 
spell of bad weather, an’ I was n’t takin’ in more ’n 
twenty-five cents a day, so I snooped ’round to see 
if I could n’t find somethin’ that would be cheaper. 
Then I struck this shed, an’ I says to myself, says 
I, * That ’s jest my size ’; but I knew it would n’t 
do to try to bite it out of the carpenter’s ear ’less I 
had a pretty good story to put up. I waited four 
whole days till it turned ’round so cold that the hair 
on your head would freeze, an’ long towards the 


THE AMATEUR. 


5 


middle of the afternoon it began to snow. Then I 
said to myself that the time had come when I ’d 
got to make the trade. I crawled into the carpen¬ 
ter’s shop an’ give him a pretty straight story. 
Told him how bad business was— Well, he could 
see for himself nobody would want boots shined in 
that weather. He said if I promised him I would n’t 
freeze to death, ’cause he did n’t want any dead 
bootblacks on his hands, I could come in for a 
spell. An’ don’t you think I was n’t fixed! All 
the shavings I wanted for a bed right there on the 
floor, an’ if the boss of the Astor House had got 
down on his knees beggin’ me to come to his hotel 
to stop, I ’d said ‘ no,’ ’cause I could n’t be 
bothered with the airs they put on down that way. 
How long can I stay here ? I ain’t troublin’ my 
head ’bout that. I don’t let the man what owns 
the place see me any oftener than I can help, an’ so 
long’s I keep out of sight there ain’t much chance 
of my bein’ fired.” 

Seth’s home in which he took so much pride was 
by no means as uncomfortable as one might sup¬ 
pose. With ample material in the shape of short 
lengths of boards, he had constructed a tiny apart¬ 
ment in one end with so great care that only such 
wind as was necessary for perfect ventilation found 
its way in to him, while his bed of shavings was more 
rest-inviting and probably more cleanly than was 


6 


AN AMATEUR EJREMAA. 


the well-worn mattress on which he had slept at 
Mrs. Wardwell’s home. 

Once having taken possession of this abode, Seth 
set about making an honest penny out of his new 
possessions by allowing Jip Collins to become his 
roommate upon the payment of fifteen cents each 
week, and for several months these two lived in ap¬ 
parent harmony, although Seth afterward said that 
“Jip tired him ” by finding so much fault with the 
Fire Department. 

Then came the time when the lodger insisted 
upon the use of candles at night, and in smoking 
cigarettes inside the apartment, both of which lux¬ 
uries or pleasures had been expressly forbidden by 
Mr. Baxter when he gave the bootblack permission 
to occupy the premises. 

Jip had not departed in a friendly manner. He 
believed he had good cause for grievance against 
Seth, and on the day he left the lodgings threatened 
with many a needless word to “ make it hot ” for 
the would-be fireman. 

Then Master Bartlett had taken Dan Roberts as a 
tenant, and the two had been living as peacefully 
and comfortably as could be expected, save at such 
times as they heard of new and more startling 
threats from Jip, up to this moment when the lodger 
took it upon himself to criticise his landlord’s ad¬ 
miration of a fireman’s calling. 


THE AMATEUR. 


7 


Seth Bartlett was not a general favorite among 
the merchants in the boot-blacking and newspaper 
business, owing to the general belief that he “ put 
on airs ” because of his acquaintance with ’Lish 
Davis, driver of Ninety-four engine, which was 
stationed near Mr. Baxter’s shed. 

When trade was dull, instead of joining his 
brother merchants in pitching pennies or such other 
games as they might chance to indulge in, Seth 
spent his time about the engine-house, on the alert 
for an opportunity to be of benefit to some of the 
men, hoping thereby to so far earn their favor that 
he might be looked upon as a welcome visitor. 

During no less than two months had he thus ap¬ 
parently loitered around, bent on one object, and 
pursuing that steadily, without having, been so 
fortunate as to attract particular attention. Then 
on a certain day, Elisha Davis, the driver, called 
upon the small workman for a shine. 

Seth’s freckled face was radiant with delight as 
he entered the engine-house for the first time, and 
his big brown eyes wandered from the glittering 
machine, above the pole of which hung the shining 
harness, to the apparently complicated apparatus 
of brass and walnut over the house-watchman’s desk. 

’Lish, as his comrades spoke of him, was not in 
the mood to wait until the boy’s curiosity had been 
satisfied, for at any instant an alarm might summon 


8 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


him to duty, and he impatiently called upon Seth 
to set about his work, or “ clear out.” 

Never before had the bootblack spent so much 
time over a single pair of boots; he polished them 
with his brushes until they shone like mirrors, then 
hardened the gloss with a piece of flannel, and when 
it seemed as if his work had been done to perfec¬ 
tion, blackened the brilliant surface again with the 
hope of improving what had apparently been a 
great success. 

“You ’re not any too quick about the job; but 
there ain’t a lad around here that could have done 
it better,” ’Lish said approvingly, and would have 
given the boy a nickel, but that the latter drew back 
quickly. 

I don’t want anythin’ for the shine; I ’d like 
mighty well to give you one every day.” 

Do you go around working for thanks ?” the 
driver asked with no little surprise. 

Of course I take my pay from other folks; but 
I would n’t let any fireman put up for a shine.” 

“ Why not ?” 

’Cause I ’m jest the same as one myself—that 
is, I ’m goin’ into the Department when I ’m old 
enough.” 

“ Stuck on the business, eh ? ” 

“ That’s jest the size of it! ” Seth cried enthu¬ 
siastically. “ I tend out on most all the fires in 



'LISH DAVIS AND SETH 


Page 8 


















































































THE AMATEUR. 


9 

Ninety-four’s district, an’ sometimes I get a chance 
to sneak inside the lines.” 

” You do, eh ? Well, I ’ll have an eye out after 
this, and if I get my hands on you there won’t be 
any more such sneaking.” 

“ Now, what’s the matter with my doin’ a little 
thing like that ? It don’t hurt anybody, an’ I pick 
up a good many points.” 

“ Some day a falling wall will knock you down, 
or you ’ll find yourself under the wheels of an 
engine, and then your ‘ points ’ won’t be of any 
particular advantage.” 

” I can take care of myself as well as you, an’ if I 
don’t knock ’round when there’s a fire, how am I 
ever goin’ to learn the business ? ” 

” You don’t want to learn what’s a dog’s life at 
the best. Steer clear of it, lad, and put your mind 
on anything else, for a man don’t last long at this 
kind of work; even if he does n’t get killed offhand, 
it’s only a question of time—and in many cases a 
precious short time—before a fireman is laid on the 
shelf, worn out. Now, clear away from here if you 
won’t take pay for the shine, and remember that 
I ’ll have my eye out after this to see you don’t get 
inside the lines.” 

Seth obeyed promptly with never a protest, and 
’Lish said to the watchman at the desk: 

“ That ’s a decent kind of a lad, and if he hangs 


IO AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 

around here any more there ’s no reason why we 
should n’t throw a job in his way now and then.” 

“ How does that fit in with the lesson you read to 
him ? ” 

“ I did n’t try to make it fit. If I can scare him 
out of the notion he’s got in his head, it ’ll show 
he ain’t suited for this kind of a life; but if he sticks 
at it, I ’ll believe it’s worth while to give him a lift 
now and then.” 

If Seth could have heard this brief conversation 
he would, most likely, have indulged in the latest 
jig-step he had learned, and perhaps neglected his 
work as bootblack until hunger forced him to take 
up the brushes again; but he was ignorant of 
’Lish’s good intentions, and went away with a 
heavy heart, yet having no idea of abandoning his 
efforts to ” learn the business.” 

He did not cease to spend his spare moments 
about Ninety-four’s house, and after ’Lish Davis 
had many times threatened the direst punishment if 
he persisted in such a course, but without effect, 
the members of the company came to look upon 
Seth as a boy of pluck, who would one day force 
his way into the Department. 

However, no one of Ninety-four’s men had given 
him an opportunity for doing other than blacking 
boots, and the boy was entirely ignorant of their 
friendliness toward him. 


THE AMATEUR. 


II 


Such was the general position of affairs on the 
night when Dan Roberts believed it his duty to 
mildly reprove Seth for spending so much time in 
what seemed to be idleness when he should be look¬ 
ing for customers. 

After the master of the shed-home had announced 
so positively that he would be a fireman in due 
course of time, Dan, remembering how Jip Collins 
had lost his footing in the household, decided he 
had done his whole duty in the matter, and straight¬ 
way changed the subject of conversation by saying: 

“ Sam Barney had mighty bad luck to-day. First 
off, somebody passed a lead dime on him, an’ then 
he lost as many as fifteen cents at one slap/' 

“ How ? ” Seth asked with no slight show of in¬ 
terest. 

“ That ’s what he can’t make out. He had the 
money in the same pocket where he always carries 
it, when all of a sudden it was gone.” 

“ Somebody touched him.” 

“ Must be, an’ Sam thinks he’s got an idea who 
it is.” 

“ Can’t be any of the reg’lar gang, ’cause I don’t 
know a feller what would do a trick like that.” 

” Sam ’s keepin’ mighty close about it, an’ I 
would n’t wonder if he found the whole business 
out before long. He comes near to bein’ a reg’lar 
detective, you know.” 


12 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“Who? Sam?” 

“ Sure.” 

“ But what does he know about the detective 
business ? ” 

“ Perhaps he ’s learnin’ it same ’s you are the 
fireman’s racket.” 

This reduced Seth to silence, and Dan, fearing 
that he might have given offence, hastened to say 
in a most friendly tone: 

“ Of course if a feller studies over anything of 
that kind he ’ll soon come somewhere near knowin’ 
a little about it, an’ Sam is posted in more ways 
than one.” 

“ Then how does it happen he let anybody go 
through him ? ” 

“ That’s the funny part of it, an’ the folks what 
did it must have been mighty slick, ’cause, you 


Dan was interrupted by the sound of footsteps 
near at hand, and ever on the alert against possible 
danger, Seth made his way to the door of the shed 
as he asked sharply: 

“ Who’s there ? ” 

“ It’s only me,” a familiar voice replied, and he 
knew that the visitor was none other than the boy 
of whom he and his lodger had just been speak¬ 
ing. 

Dan was tellin’ me you ’d lost your money. 



THE AMATEUR. 


13 


Did n’t come up here reckonin’ he or I ’d got it, 
did you ? ” 

” I ain’t any sich fool as that; but Jip Collins has 
been makin’ a good deal of cheap talk this after¬ 
noon, an’ I thought perhaps you ’d like to know 
’bout it.” 

He’s allers doin’ that, an’ I reckon it’s more 
wind than anythin’ else.” 

I would n’t wonder if this time he got right 
down to business, an’ you ought ’er keep a pretty 
sharp lookout, Seth. These are too snug quarters 
for you to lose through a feller like Jip.” 

” Come inside and set down,” Master Bartlett 
said as his lodger joined him at the door of the shed. 
“ Dan an’ me is here alone, an’ you won’t mind if 
it ’s dark, ’cause you see I promised Mr. Baxter 
straight out an’ out that there should n’t ever be 
any kind of a light inside. That ’s one of the 
things Jip kicked about, you know.” 

Sam Barney promptly accepted the invitation. 
Being an old friend of Seth’s, he was familiar with 
the household arrangements, and despite the dark¬ 
ness made his way through the shed to the box-like 
home in one corner, where, after some difficulty, he 
found a block of wood that served as chair. 

Seth threw himself upon the bed of shavings, and 
Dan lounged negligently near the entrance. 

“ I should think it would be kind er lonesome in 


H 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 


here nights when it ’s like this,” Sam suggested as 
he tried in vain to distinguish the form of either of 
his companions. 

“ Well, it ain’t, ’cause Dan an’ me don’t spend 
a great deal of time settin’ ’round after we once 
get in. We should have been asleep before this if 
he had n’t had considerable to say ’bout my tryin’ 
to be a fireman. He’d jest got through when you 
came.” 

“ Well, say, Seth, you don’t b’lieve you ’re ever 
goin’ to get on to the Department, jest ’cause you 
run to every fire Ninety-four goes to, do you ? ” 

“ I don’t know why I can’t be a fireman jest as 
easy as you can a detective, an’ some of the fellers 
say you ’re workin’ mighty hard to be one.” 

“ Well, s’posen I am ? ” and Sam spoke sharply. 

” I ain’t kickin’ against it; but was only sayin’ 
that it’s jest as easy for me to get what I ’m tryin’ 
for, as it is for you.” 

Sam’s opinion on the subject may have differed 
from that of his host, but he refrained from making 
any reply, and at once began to speak concerning 
the purpose of his visit. 

Jip Collins is goin’ to work some kind of a 
racket on you, an’ I reckon I can guess pretty nigh 
what it is. He was makin’ a good deal of talk this 
afternoon, an’ it seems as though the time had 
come when you ’d better have your eyes open.” 


THE AMATEUR . 


15 


“ Jip’s allers had a good deal to say since I told 
him he could n't sleep here any longer; but it 
never ’mounted to anythin’.” 

“ But look here, Seth, this time I b’lieve he ’ll do 
some mischief. He’s been tellin’ that he ’ll give 
you a chance to show how much of a fireman you 
are, an’ I heard him talkin’ ’bout touchin’ a match 
to shavings, so’s to smoke you out, till I ’ve made 
up my mind that he ’s goin’ to set fire to this 
place.” 

Seth laughed derisively. 

I ain’t ’fraid of a feller like him.” 

44 Then it ’s all right, an’ no harm done in my 
tellin’ you; but if I was in your place I ’d keep my 
eyes open pretty wide. Now, Jip Collins can’t scare 
me a little bit; but yet if I was in a snap like this, 
an’ I knew he’d threatened to set fire, it would 
kind er stir me up a bit.” 

” Don’t you go to thinkin’ I ain’t glad ’cause you 
told me, Sam, for I am, only it don’t stand to 
reason a feller like Jip Collins can do much of any¬ 
thin’.” 

” Don’t you be so sure of that,” Dan Roberts 
cried. ” I ’ve heard somethin’ ’bout what Jip ’s 
been sayin’, though I never b’lieved he had it in his 
head to burn the place up; but this much is sure: 
if it could be done without his takin’ too many 
chances, he ’s jest the kind of a feller what would 


1 6 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 

try it. He claims that, accordin’ to the trade, you 
give him the right to stay in this place jest as long 
as you did, and that it was the same as swindlin’ 
him when I come in.” 

“ He knows better than that. I told him we ’d 
try it a spell, an’ see how we got along; the very 
first night I went all over the business with him, an’ 
said if we could n’t hitch together easy like, why 
we did n’t want to stay in the same place, an’ he 
was satisfied with it. Now, I don’t see how I can 
do anythin’ if he’s bent on settin’ fire to the shed, 
more ’n lookin’ ’round pretty sharp before I go to 
bed.” 

“ If I owned this place same’s you do, I should 
set up nights, ’cause then ’s when he ’ll try his 
game,” Sam said with an air of wisdom. ” It ain’t 
likely he ’ll come ’round here in the daytime; but 
after the men have gone away from the shop it 
would n’t be anyways hard for him to get in an’ 
strike a match to some of these shavin’s. ” 

“ But accordin’ to that you could n’t do very 
much work, if you set up all night watchin’ for Jip 
Collins. You ’d have to sleep in the daytime. I 
don’t see how a feller is goin’ to earn his livin’ any 
sich way.” 

“ I did n’t say you ought ’er do it,” Sam re¬ 
plied quickly; ” but was only tellin’ what I believed 
in. It ain’t likely you’d have to stand watch many 


THE AMATEUR. 


17 


nights, ’cause the first time you caught Jip you ’d 
put an end to it by pretty nigh thumpin’ the life 
out er him; then I don’t reckon he’d come again.” 

Do you s’pose he’s countin’ on doin’ this all 
alone ? ” 

No; he’s got a couple of fellers from Brooklyn 
that he’s chummin’ with jest now, an’ most likely 
they ’re cornin’ into the game.” 

If they do, an’ I should watch for Jip till I 
caught him, there ain’t any great show of my 
thumpin’ him very bad if he’s got two others to 
lend a hand.” 

“You ain’t scared of him, are you ? ” Sam asked 
quickly. 

“ Not much I ain’t; but I ’ll keep clear from that 
kind of a racket till I know somethin’ ’bout it. I 
can’t ’ford to have a row, don’t you see, ’cause if 
any of Ninety-four’s men heard I was fightin’ my 
way along, as likely as not they’d shut me off from 
goin’ to the engine-house, an’ then ag’in when the 
time comes for me to get into the Department it 
would give me a black eye if I had the name of 
doin’ sich things. I don’t s’pose that would hurt a 
detective; but they ’re mighty careful what kind of 
fellers they have in the Department, an’ I don’t 
count on havin’ a bad mark to my name four years 
from now.” 

” Well, suit yourself about that, of course. It 


i8 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


ain’t any of my business, only I thought I ’d tell 
you what Jip ’s sayin’, an’ I’ve got to get along 
over towards Hoboken.” 

Then, from the noise he made, his hosts under¬ 
stood that Sam Barney was making his way out of 
the apartment, and Dan asked in a friendly tone if 
he had made any new discoveries regarding the 
theft of his money. 

I’m follerin’ up a pretty good clue now,” Sam 
replied in a tone calculated to give the hearer an 
impression that he could tell more if it was neces¬ 
sary, and then with a cheery “ So long,” he rapidly 
made his way across the lumber-yard to the street. 


CHAPTER II. 


’LISH DAVIS. 


W HEN their visitor had departed Seth and Dan 
held a long consultation as to the advisabil¬ 
ity of following Sam’s advice in the matter of stand- 
ing guard during the hours of darkness. 

Dan believed that, owing to his having made a 
study of the detective business, Sam Barney knew 
better than they what should be done toward ward¬ 
ing off the threatened attack, and, regardless of the 
labor involved, he proposed that a sentinel be 
stationed just outside the shed door. 

“ I ’ll go on guard until twelve o’clock, and you 
can sleep all that time; then I ’ll call you an’ take 
my turn at it,” Dan said after they had discussed 
the matter in all its bearings for ten minutes or 
more. 

“ How do you count on keepin’ awake ?” 

** That can easily be done, ’cause I ’ll walk ’round 
the yard, an’ the nights are just about cold enough 
to make a feller want to move lively.” 

“ I don’t believe Jip Collins would dare do what 
he threatens.” 


19 


20 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ He would if he thought the game could be 
worked without too much risk, an’ I tell you, Seth, 
if both of us turn in an’ go to sleep he might carry 
the whole shed away without our knowin’ it.” 

“ All right; I ’ll ’gree to it, though if he should 
come ’round we must n’t have too much of a row, 
’cause you remember what I told Sam ’bout not 
wantin’ to be taken for a fighter in this neighbor¬ 
hood, else I ’ll never get into the Department.” 

“You can be pretty certain I should n’t tackle 
him alone, an’ if them two fellers from Brooklyn 
’mount to anythin’, why you an’ I together would n’t 
have too much of a show.” 

Then, after repeating that he was to be called at 
midnight in order to perform his full share of the 
labor, Seth went into the box-like apartment, and 
Dan began his work as watchman. 

During the first half-hour he paced to and from 
one end of the yard to the other, scrutinizing care¬ 
fully every unfamiliar object, until it seemed to him 
the night was more than half spent. 

“ I must have been here four hours now, an’ Sam 
Barney left ’bout half-past seven, so I have n’t got 
a great while to tramp ’round,” he said to himself, 
and just at that moment the clock on a neighboring 
steeple struck the hour of eight. 

He was both surprised and discouraged at thus 
learning that the time was passing so slowly, and it 


DISH DA VIS. 


21 


suddenly came into his mind that he was very 
tired. 

It was foolish to keep constantly moving around, 
because if Jip Collins should come he would see the 
sentinel and make no effort to carry out his threats 
until the coast was clear. 

Therefore it was that Master Roberts built a seat 
from pieces of board just inside the shed, and seat¬ 
ing himself where he could have a full view of the 
yard while remaining unseen, he continued his 
duties in what appeared to him to be a much wiser, 
and certainly a more comfortable fashion. 

Here he was protected from the chill wind, and as 
was only natural, here also he fell asleep even while 
saying to himself that nothing should tempt him to 
close his eyes even for a single moment. 

When the near-by clock struck the hour of twelve 
Dan was still wrapped in slumber. 

At three o’clock in the morning his repose was 
most profound, and just at daylight Seth shook him 
by the shoulder as he asked with a laugh: 

“ How long have you been asleep ? ” 

Dan’s most intimate friends claimed that he never 
told a lie, and he was not tempted to do so on this 
occasion, even though the truth provoked mirth at 
his expense. 

“ It could n’t have been a great while after eight 
o’clock. It did n’t seem possible I’d go to sleep 


22 


AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN. 


here, Seth, an’ sure I meant to keep my eyes wide 
open; but the first thing I knew it was done, an’ I 
have n’t woke up since.” 

“ Well, that shows how much need there is to 
watch for Jip Collins. He’s all wind, that feller is, 
an’ likes to go ’round town braggin’ what he ’ll do to 
us; but you ’ll find every night will be jest like this. 
As soon as it’s dark he gets where he belongs, an’ 
don’t take the chances of bein’ out too late. Cornin’ 
up here in the night an’ tryin’ any funny business is 
too much for a coward like him, an’ I tell you we 
might as well go to sleep as to stand guard.” 

Nothing could have been more convincing to Dan 
than this experience. When the amateur detective 
left them it seemed positive J ip Collins would at¬ 
tempt to work mischief before daybreak, and had 
he been forced to lie down on the bed of shavings 
by the side of his landlord, Dan Roberts would 
have felt decidedly uneasy in mind. 

Now, however, since he had kept such poor 
watch, and it was evident the enemy had not been 
in that vicinity, he came to look at the matter much 
as did Seth. 

Although no absolute decision was arrived at re¬ 
garding what should be done in the future as to 
standing guard, it was understood between these 
two inmates of the shed-home, that such precaution 
was unnecessary. 


’LISH DA VIS. 


23 


Among his other conveniences for housekeeping 
Seth had a tin biscuit-box which served him as cup¬ 
board, and the two were in the custom of bringing 
home at night sufficient for their breakfast next 
morning. 

It was necessary Dan should be ready to begin 
business at a very early hour, and when the sun rose 
these two merchants were usually making ready for 
the day’s work. 

On this particular morning, however, they lingered 
over the meal, having much spare time at their dis¬ 
posal because of Seth’s early awakening, and shortly 
after daybreak both set out, one to visit the news¬ 
paper offices and the other to loiter in the vicinity 
of the engine-house until the firemen should require 
his services, for now nearly all the company patron¬ 
ized the lad, whom they were pleased to call “ the 
amateur. ” 

It is but right, however, to state that he was paid 
for such services. After that first morning when 
Seth had refused to take money from ’Lish Davis, 
he was given to understand that when the members 
of the company wanted boots blacked they were to 
pay for the labor, otherwise some other of the frater¬ 
nity would be called upon. 

Seth begged for the privilege of “shinin’ for the 
crowd free,” declaring that he should not lose any 
money through such gratuitous labor, for he would 


24 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


be familiarizing himself with the indoor details of a 
fireman’s life. 

To this, however, ’Lish Davis made answer: 

“ See here, my son, you ’ve got your living to 
earn, and can’t afford to give up bread an’ butter for 
the sake of getting on to our work. We ’ll pay for 
the shines, or you don’t put your nose inside this 
house, and as for finding out what we do hereabout, 
why it’s nothing but drudgery. Cleaning harnesses, 
setting the machines to rights, and keeping the 
place neat as a new pin make up the bulk of the 
work. So take a nickel for every shine you give, or 
out you go, never to come back.” 

From that hour Seth had been paid regularly, 
and, thanks to such patronage, he was in a great 
measure independent of other customers, because 
there was seldom a day when he did not earn at 
least twenty-five cents from Ninety-four’s men. 

Thus it can be understood that he was warranted 
in loitering near the engine-house until his patrons 
should be ready for his services, and on this par¬ 
ticular morning the first man who came out of 
doors found him seated on his box, leaning against 
the building, whistling cheerily. 

Feeling pretty good this morning, ain’t you, 
kid ? ” the fireman asked rather as a greeting than 
for the purpose of gaining information, and the boy 
replied in a tone of perplexity: 


'LISH DA VIS. 


25 


I ain’t certain about that, Mr. Walters.” 

“ Not sure whether you ’re feeling good or not ?” 

“ No, an’ that’s a fact. Has Mr. Davis turned out 
yet ? ” 

“ Well, s’pose he has ? Do you want to consult 
with him ? ” 

“ That’s ’bout the size of it.” 

“ He’s inside with the horses; go right through.” 

In order that he might not be an unwelcome 
visitor, Seth had had sufficient good sense never to 
enter the building without an express invitation or 
permission, and perhaps because he was thus scru¬ 
pulous the men were all the more willing to admit 
him. 

” Hello! What ’s up?” ’Lish Davis asked as 
the boy appeared thus unannounced. 

” If you ain’t very busy I’d like to talk with you 
’bout somethin’ that ’s botherin’ my pardner an’ 
me a good bit since last night.” 

” Fire away, lad. I reckon I ’ve got time enough 
to listen to the story, unless it is in more than one 
chapter.” 

“ It ain’t so very long, an’ I ’ll be quick as I 
can,” Seth replied, and then he told, without going 
too much into detail, of his trouble with Jip Collins, 
and of the latest threats which the boy had made, 
according to Sam Barney’s statement, concluding 
by saying: 


26 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


** Now, I don’t believe Jip’s got sand enough to 
do any sich thing as settin’ fire to the shed, an’ it ’s 
sure he did n’t try it last night, ’cause he had jevery 
chance; but I ’ve been thinkin’ ’bout it while I was 
waitin’ for the house to be opened, an’ it kind-er 
come into my mind that perhaps he might make a 
bluff at it.” 

“ I would n’t be surprised at anything some of 
these young villains did,” ’Lish Davis said after a 
brief time of reflection. ” The general run of street 
boys get an idea into their heads, and don’t stop to 
realize what the consequences may be. Let me 
see, you live in the rear of Baxter’s carpenter shop, 
don’t you ? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

” There’s a brick building butts up against the 
back end of that lot, so your only chance of getting 
out would be to come through the lumber-yard ? ” 

“ Yes, sir.” 

” Well, it would n’t amount to very much as a 
fire; but in case one got started there, you and your 
partner would stand a good show of getting a dose.” 

Seth understood the driver to mean that there 
was danger of being suffocated by the smoke, and 
he admitted that such might be the case, but 
added: 

“ We can’t do as Sam Barney says, an’ set up 
every night watchin’, else when would we sleep ? ” 


'LISH DAVIS. 27 

“ Why don’t you leave this place for two or three 
days, and find some other quarters ? ” 

“ That never’d do, ’cause jest as soon as the 
fellers knew I’d gone, they’d snoop ’round, an’ I’d 
be thrown out of a home mighty quick.” 

“You might get Baxter to let you put a lock on 
the shed; that would keep them out.” 

I would n’t like to do it, ’cause you see I ’ve 
got an idea the carpenter has forgot all about my 
sleepin’ there, an’ perhaps if I was to flash up so 
fresh askin’ for a lock on the bedroom door he’d 
think it was ’bout time for me to skip.” 

“ Well, look here, Seth, you might as well give 
me a shine, and while you ’re doing that I ’ll see if 
I can think of a way out for you. I ’m inclined to 
believe the same as your detective friend does, that 
it stands you in hand to keep a pretty good watch, 
and I ’ll speak to the cop on this beat.” 

Seth set about his professional duties without de¬ 
lay, and by the time one boot had been polished so 
perfectly that it reflected surrounding objects almost 
as well as a mirror, the fireman asked abruptly: 

“ How old are you, kid ? ” 

“ Fourteen, accordin’ to the way I Agger it.” 

“ Don’t you know ?” 

“ Well, you see, old Miss Washburn—she was the 
woman that claimed to bring me up, though it ’s 
precious little she did towards it—was n’t no ways 


28 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


certain herself, but that ’s what she allowed, so it’s 
good enough for me.” 

“ Have n’t got any folks, eh ? ” 

“ Well, I did have a mother, you know, till I was 
a couple of years old, so Miss Washburn says.” 

“ Where’s your father ? ” 

“You see, I never had one, leastways not what 
you would call a real father, ’cause when a man is 
a reg’lar gin-pig, no decent feller is goin’ to own up 
that he’s his relation. The last time I saw him he 
was goin’ down on the Island for ninety days, an’ 
that was as much as three years ago.” 

“You’ve still got the fool idea in your mind that 
you ’re going to be a fireman ? ” 

“ It ain’t any fool idea, Mr. Davis, ’cause it’s a 
fact. That’s jest what I count on bein’.” 

“ Look here, my son, I’ve been thinking about 
you a considerable bit since I found it was no use 
trying to scare you out of the plan, and in a year’s 
time or so, I reckon, between the captain and Wal¬ 
ters and me, we can get you in up to headquarters. 
Now, don’t jump so! laid n’t mean we allowed 
you could go there as a recruit; but the captain was 
saying the other night that we might work it so’s 
you could get some kind of a berth there—sweeping 
floors, washing windows, and the like of that, 
which, if you keep your ears and eyes open, would 
amount to the same as if you went into actual 


'LISH DA VIS. 


2 9 


training. You ain’t the lad I ’ve got in my eye if 
you could n’t soon work your way into one of the 
classes.” 

If I only might!” Seth replied emphatically, 
with a long indrawing of the breath. “ If I only 
might! ” 

I allow we ’ll work it, lad; but you must grow 
a good bit ’twixt now and then.” 

I ’m hopin’ to get an early spring moustache 
before long. Sim Jepson’s got one, an’ I’m goin’ 
to do the same as he did, ’cause the fellers say he 
put somethin’ on to make the hair grow.” 

The driver laughed long and loud at this an¬ 
nouncement made in the gravest tone, and called 
upon every idle man in the building to come and 
hear the “ amateur’s ” latest scheme for getting into 
the Department. 

The boy’s face flushed a deep red before ’Lish 
Davis was willing to cease laughing at or repeating 
the proposition; but finally he wearied of his sport, 
and, his boots having long since been polished, said 
in a serious tone : 

“ I ’ll speak to the cop on this beat about your 
friend Collins, and in the meantime make it your 
business to hunt him up. Let the little scoundrel 
know you ’ve told me; that I ’m going to post the 
policeman, and that he ’ll get a mighty hot recep¬ 
tion if he should try any of his firebug business, I 


30 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


reckon some such hint will knock the mischief out 
of his head, unless he’s a born idiot.” 

Then Mr. Davis walked away, intent on the morn¬ 
ing duties, and Seth set about his regular work until 
all the company had been served, after which he 
started down-town in accordance with the plan pro¬ 
posed by the driver. 

Owing to customers, and they were unusually 
plentiful on this day, it was not until late in the 
afternoon that he arrived at City Hall Square, where 
Jip Collins was most often to be found, and here he 
met his partner. 

Dan was delighted at learning what steps had 
been taken for their safety, although because of the 
previous night’s experience he had begun to doubt 
if their enemy would dare carry his threats into 
effect, and the two at once made search for Master 
Collins. 

He had been seen thereabouts within an hour by 
more than one of Seth’s acquaintances; but now 
although the two searched until nightfall it was im¬ 
possible to accomplish their purpose. 

It seemed much as if Jip Collins, learning that 
Seth was in the vicinity, believed it wisest to keep 
out of sight, and after the night had fully come Dan 
said impatiently: 

“ It’s no use spendin’ so much time on that duffer, 
’cause he won’t show up again to-night. We’ve 


'LISH DA VIS. 


31 


told so many of the fellers what ’Lish Davis said, 
that Jip will be sure to hear of it before he goes to 
bed, an’ perhaps that will be just as well as if you 
had met him, ’cause there might have been a row. 
Let’s go up and get a bowl of five-cent soup and a 
piece of pie. I can stand a ten-cent spread to¬ 
night, an’ business has been good enough with you.” 

To this proposition Seth assented, and the two 
made their way to a certain restaurant on Chatham 
Street, where, after an unusually profitable day’s 
work, they were in the custom of feasting. 

If there was any one thing in which Dan Roberts 
excelled it was in his ability to eat very fast and for 
a long while. 

He ordered the waiter to bring him the pie and 
the soup at the same time, and it seemed to Seth 
as if he had but just begun before his partner was 
finished. 

“ I reckon I can take one more bowl of that soup, 
an’ then be through before you are,” he said, 
thoughtfully. “ I made pretty near forty cents, 
an’ it’s kind ’er tough if a feller can’t spend fifteen 
of it, eh ? ” 

“ Go ahead if you want the soup, an’ are willin’ 
to pay for it. It don’t make any difference to me, 
’cause I ’ll stay here till you ’re filled plum full; but 
I tell you what it is, Dan, you ’re gettin’ into an 
awful habit of eatin’.” 


32 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ Is that what you call a habit ? ’ 

“ Course it is. If you did n’t think about it every 
minute, you would n’t be so hungry.” 

“I’m pretty near starved all the time as it is, an’ 
I don’t know how I’d get along with any less,’’ Dan 
replied apologetically, and then, the soup having 
been brought, he gave his undivided attention to the 
pleasing task. 

After the feast the boys, having nothing of 
special importance to do, lounged leisurely towards 
their home in the shed, and it was nearly nine 
o’clock before they crept into the box that served 
as chamber, both feeling tired and sleepy. 

Not until they were inside did Seth realize that 
they had not searched the lumber-yard, and he in¬ 
sisted that they go at once to make certain no 
enemy was hidden near at hand. 

“ What’s the use of that ? ” Dan asked petulantly. 
“You can be sure Jip Collins ain’t anywhere ’round 
here, ’cause some of the fellers have told him what 
we said long before this, an’ he ’ll give the place a 
wide berth.” 

“You ain’t sure he knows that I told ’Lish Davis 
’bout the threats he was makin’.” 

“ Well, he did n’t come last night, an’ you was 
the one that said he would n’t dare to show his nose 
’round.” 

I know it; but somehow or other, Dan, it seems 


'LISH DA VIS. 


33 

as if we ought ’er look out a little sharper, ’cause he 
might be fool enough to try such a game.” 

“ An’ if he did after tellin’ everybody about it, 
he’d go up the river ten or fifteen years, sure—I 
ain’t certain but that it would be a life sentence.” 

“ Yes, I know all that, Dan, but Jip ain’t the 
kind of a feller to figger on sich things, an’ if he gets 
a notion right solid in his head, there’s no knowin’ 
how big a fool he might make of himself, so let’s 
go out an’ have a look ’round.” 

It was with an ill grace that Dan followed Seth, 
and even then his share in the search was of but 
little service owing to the fact that he hurried from 
one part of the yard to the other without making 
an effort to ascertain if any one was secreted in the 
many convenient hiding-places near at hand. 

After ten minutes or more had been spent by the 
two boys, Seth performing his work faithfully and 
Dan shirking, the partners retired, and it was as if 
they had but just stretched themselves at full length 
on the bed of shavings when both were asleep. 

If Dan had been acting the part of sentinel just 
inside the shed door an hour after the two retired, 
he would have seen in the gloom three dark forms 
emerge from behind a pile of boards which he had 
failed to look over carefully, and advance cautiously 
toward the shed door, halting when they were 
twenty feet or more away. 

3 


34 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Had he been there he would have recognized one 
of these as Jip Collins, and most probably suspected 
that the other two were the boys from Brooklyn 
spoken of by the amateur detective. 

He would also have heard the conversation which 
followed ; but he did not because he was asleep, and 
the lad who was willing to commit a crime in order 
to compass his revenge found no impediment in the 
way. 

“ They ’re snorin’ by this time, that’s certain,” 
Jip said to his comrades, “ an’ even if they was n’t 
we might talk here for an hour without their hearin’, 
’cause Seth’s room is in the farther end of the shed, 
and there’s a whole pile of lumber between him an’ 
the door. He don’t believe in going out much after 
he’s got inside the yard, for fear the carpenter will 
see him, so we can make up our minds that there’s 
nothin’ to stop us.” 

“ Where do you count on starting the fire ? ” 

“ Right close by the shed door, of course. I 
know where to get a lot of shavings.” 

“ But it won’t do to set it so near, because the 
fellers might be burned to death, an’ that would be 
a pretty piece of business, Jip Collins.” 

“ Gettin’ scared, eh ?” 

“You don’t want to talk to me ’bout gettin’ 
scared, a feller who’d let another only half his size 
back him down same’s you did last night.” 



JIP COLLINS AND THE BOYS FROM BROOKLYN. Page 34. 




















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'LISH DA VIS. 


35 


If you ain’t scared, what are you makin’ a row 
’bout now ? We ’greed to put a fire here so’s to 
singe Seth an’ Dan a little.” 

“ Yes, I agreed to that much; but I don’t count 
on killing ’em.” 

Neither do I.” 

But how can you help it if you build the fire 
right close to the door, when there’s no other way 
for ’em to get out ? ” 

Don’t you s’pose they’ve got sense enough to 
wake up before the thing gets too far along ? ” 

I ’ve heard of folks bein’ smothered to death 
while they was asleep, an’ I ain’t in this game if 
that’s the way you ’re goin’ to work it.” 

“ Then back out if you ’re scared, an’ I ’ll do it.” 

Without paying any further attention to his com¬ 
panions, Jip made his way to the rear of the carpen¬ 
ter’s shop, where he knew would be found an ample 
supply of light wood and shavings, and when he 
returned, his arms filled with the inflammable 
material, neither of his friends from Brooklyn could 
be seen. 


CHAPTER III. 


JIP’S REVENGE. 

I F Jip Collins had not accused the Brooklyn boys 
of being afraid, it is doubtful if he would have 
dared to set fire to the shed. 

Now it seemed to him as if he must carry out the 
proposed crime, or set himself down as a coward, 
and because of being deficient in bravery his one 
fear was lest such fact should be generally known. 

He was on the spot; the materials for kindling a 
blaze were in his arms, and it appeared at that mo¬ 
ment to him as if it was absolutely necessary he 
should perform what he had so often threatened 
without really intending to do. 

The shavings and light wood were laid at the door 
of the shed. Jip was careful not to place them in 
such a manner as would be best calculated to pro¬ 
duce the fiercest blaze; but dropped them without 
heed, as if saying to himself that chance should de¬ 
cide whether the building caught fire or not. 

He drew several matches from his pocket, and 
looked around apprehensively, hearing in every 
36 


JIP'S REVENGE. 37 

noise the footsteps of an officer coming to drag him 
to prison. 

After thus hesitating several moments he under¬ 
stood beyond a peradventure that he was alone— 
that nothing save his own conscience prevented him 
from carrying into effect his plan of revenge. 

It should be said that at this moment Jip failed to 
realize what might be the consequences of such an 
act. 

One of the Brooklyn boys had suggested the pos¬ 
sibility that those in the shed might be burned to 
death if the fire was started near the door; but to 
this Jip had given little heed. He could not believe 
that two active lads like Seth and Dan would be 
overpowered by a little smoke, and felt assured 
the firemen would arrive so soon after the blaze 
had been kindled that very little damage could 
ensue. 

After this brief time of hesitation he turned 
toward the pile of wood and shavings once more, 
with a gesture as if impatient with himself for 
delaying. 

Then he lighted a match, protecting the tiny flame 
with both hands until it was a sturdy blaze, after 
which, instead of holding it to the shavings, he 
threw it away. 

For one instant his conscience had triumphed; 
but it was only for an instant. 


38 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


He lighted another match, hurriedly this time, as 
if fearing he might not have the courage to apply 
it, and when it was fully on fire muttered to 
himself: 

“ I ’ll drop it an’ take the chances. If she burns, 
it’s a go, an’ if she don’t, I ’ve done as much as 
I ’ve threatened. ” 

He suited the action to the words, and not daring 
to wait for the result, ran hurriedly into the deserted 
street. 

It was his intention to continue on, halting only 
when having arrived at his home; but now that the 
mischief might have been done he was so thoroughly 
alarmed that it seemed impossible he could leave 
the vicinity. 

Partially concealing himself in a doorway he 
waited almost breathlessly, hoping fervently the 
match had been extinguished when it fell, and as 
the seconds passed, each one seeming a full minute, 
a great hope came into his heart, for he believed 
chance had decreed that the fire should not be 
kindled. 

Then a stifled cry of fear burst from his lips, for 
he had suddenly seen a bright tongue of flame leap 
up, and he knew the crime had been committed in 
fact as well as spirit. 

At this moment he remembered the words of his 
friends from Brooklyn as distinctly as if they had 


JIP'S REVENGE . 


39 


but just been spoken, and like a flash came the real¬ 
ization that perhaps he had done that which would 
result in the loss of human life. 

The flames increased until they were reflected on 
the wall of brick in the rear, and it seemed to Jip as 
if the shed must already be in a blaze. 

Why don’t somebody send in an alarm ? ” he 
said, speaking aloud in his anxiety, although there 
was no one at hand to hear him. “ Seth an’ Dan 
will be burned to death if the engines don’t get here 
mighty soon! ” 

Then came the thought, for he believed the fire 
was already beyond control, that it would be impos¬ 
sible to rescue the boys—that he was indeed a mur¬ 
derer, for it seemed to him as if an exceedingly long 
time had elapsed since he first saw the tiny ray of 
light. 

Now his one desire was that an alarm might be 
sent in, yet no one could be seen or heard in either 
direction. 

Each moment of delay increased the peril, and 
when he had waited in most painful suspense for ten 
seconds it was impossible to remain inactive any 
longer. 

Far down the street a red light could be seen, de¬ 
noting the location of a fire-alarm station, and he 
ran toward it as he had never run before, so nervous 
when he would have opened the outer door of the 


40 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


box that for two or three seconds it was impossible 
to turn the handle. 

When he did so the sound of the warning gong, 
intended to notify the policeman on that beat that 
the box was being opened, caused him to start back 
in alarm, for he fancied the officers of justice were 
already on his trail. 

Jip had many times seen a call rung in, and in 
the merest fraction of time he recovered from his 
fears as he understood the cause of this sudden 
noise. 

Then he opened the outer door and pulled down 
the lever once; and from that instant until the first 
engine appeared, which was Ninety-four, it seemed 
to him as if an hour had passed, although in fact the 
company of which Seth considered himself in a cer¬ 
tain degree a member, had responded to the call in 
less than three minutes. 

Jip was standing by the signal-box when a rumble 
and roar in the distance told of the coming of Ninety- 
four, and he watched as if fascinated the fountain 
of sparks which went up from the smoke-stack; 
listened to the sharp clicking of the horses’ shoes on 
the pavement; to the din of the gongs, and the 
cries of startled pedestrians in the rear—hearing 
everything, seeing everything, but yet all the while 
as if in a dream. 

Nearer and nearer came the puffing engine drawn 


JIP’S REVENGE. 


4 


by three plunging horses as if it had been no more 
than a toy, and then, his brain still in a whirl, Jip 
heard as if from afar off, the question: 

“ Where ’s the fire ? ” 

“ In Baxter’s carpenter shop! ” 

The engine was some distance beyond him by the 
time he had answered the question, and from the 
opposite direction he heard the rush of a second on¬ 
coming machine; then here and there the rumble of 
wheels and hoof-beats of horses driven at their 
utmost speed, until it seemed as if by that one pull 
on the lever of the signal-box he had aroused the 
entire city. 

Now Seth and Dan would be saved if they were 
yet alive. 

At that moment there was no hope in Jip’s mind 
that they could still be living. 

It was as if he had lighted that match an hour 
ago, so slowly had the seconds passed, and with the 
thought of them as dead—burned to death through 
his act—came wildest terror. 

He fancied every fireman on Ninety-four had 
recognized him as they rode past in such mad 
haste, and knew him to be the one who had com¬ 
mitted the crime. 

There was no place in his mind for any thought 
save that of his own danger, and instantly he started 
at full speed down the street, never daring to so 


42 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


much as glance behind him, although no man pur¬ 
sued. 

When the “ joker,” which is the name given by 
firemen to the combination-bell, in Ninety-four’s 
house rang out the number of the call sent in by 
Jip, and as the horses, released by the mechanical 
trip moved by the joker, dashed out of their 
stalls, ’Lish Davis believed he knew beyond a 
question to what particular building they were 
summoned. 

Instantly that which Seth had told him came into 
his mind, and with it the painful thought that per¬ 
haps by his own neglect he had contributed to what 
might be a fatal disaster. 

“ And I never so much as warned the policeman 
on this beat! ” he said to himself as he leaped to 
his seat on the engine, snapped into place the belt 
that would hold him there, and with a quick jerk on 
the reins released the harness-catch. 

Ninety-Four had seldom left the house more 
quickly, and certainly the horses were never urged 
to a higher rate of speed than now, when ’Lish 
Davis charged himself with criminal neglect. 

During the minute and a half which intervened 
before they reached the station from which the 
alarm had been sent, the driver of Ninety-four con¬ 
ceived an absolute affection for the boy who had so 
persistently followed up his idea of becoming a fire- 


JIP'S REVENGE. 


43 


man, and, prompted by the prickings of his own 
conscience, perhaps, he muttered to himself: 

“ The kid shall go into the Department if I can 
put him there, providing it so be we find-” 

He did not finish the sentence, for at that instant 
it was to ’Lish Davis as if he must in a certain de¬ 
gree take upon himself the results of this night’s 
work. 

When they dashed past the station he needed not 
Jip’s reply to tell him whence came the glow of 
light which could now be seen reflected on the taller 
buildings, and Ninety-four got water a full two 
minutes before any other engine. 

“ That little bootblack, Seth Bartlett, sleeps in 
the shed behind the shop,” ’Lish called hoarsely as 
the men ran swiftly through the lumber-yard, and, 
hearing the words even above the tooting of whistles, 
the sounding of gongs from the on-coming engines, 
and the puffing of steam, Jerry Walters cried: 

“ I ’ll look out for him, ’Lish! ” 

Every man heard the driver’s cry, and knew that 
the amateur fireman was in danger. 

They also knew where he slept, having been given 
by the boy himself a description of his home, and 
with the first crash of Jerry’s axe as he burst in the 
door of the shed, the men set up a shout which 
sounded like music in ’Lish’s ears. 

It was Jip Collins who had started the fire, and he 



44 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


also was the means of saving the lives of Seth and 
Dan after the mischief had been wrought, for the 
firemen gained the box-like apartment not one mo¬ 
ment too soon. 

All unconscious of the danger which threatened, 
the boys had slept on until the noisome vapor 
overcame without awakening them, and when Jerry 
carried the two out into the street through the piles 
of lumber which were already beginning to blaze, 
he said to Joe Black as the latter advanced to help 
him take the apparently lifeless bodies to one of the 
patrol-wagons drawn up near at hand : 

“I’m afraid the amateur has got more of a dose 
than he can well stand.” 

Ten minutes later, when Seth woke to conscious¬ 
ness, Dan was lying by his side in the bottom of the 
wagon, and ’Lish Davis bent over him. 

“It must be that Jip Collins did what he threat¬ 
ened,” he said, speaking with difficulty because of 
the parched, burning sensation in his throat. 

“ Ay, lad, that ’s what he did, and this town 
won’t be big enough to hold him after daylight to¬ 
morrow morning.” 

But why are you here, Mr. Davis ? What 
about the team ? ” 

“ Ben Dunton is on hand, and I ’m off duty for 
the time being till I can make sure whether you ’re 
alive or not.” 


JIP'S REVENGE . 


45 


Seth knew that Ben Dunton was ’Lish’s “ relief/’ 
therefore the driver was not neglecting his duty by 
thus staying with him. 

“ Is it a bad fire ? ” he asked. 

“ The shop and about half the lumber-yard will 
go. It ’s nothing to speak of, lad, save for the fact 
of its having been kindled that murder might be 
done.” 

I don’t believe Jip Collins really meant to kill 
us. He most likely thought we would get out be¬ 
fore it was very bad. Is Dan all right ? ” 

“ There’s nothing much the matter with me,” 
Master Roberts replied in what he intended should 
be a cheery tone. “ I ’ve been awake quite a spell, 
an’ thought you’d never open your eyes.” 

“ Sure you ’re all right?” ’Lish asked, shaking 
Seth gently as if doubting whether the boy was 
fully conscious. 

” Of course I am, an’ now we ’re inside the lines 
there’s a good chance for me to look ’round after 
points. I ’m going into the yard to see what 
Ninety-four’s men are doin’.” 

” I reckon you ’ll lay where you are for a spell,” 
’Lish said with a grim smile, speaking half to him¬ 
self, and in such a low tone that neither of the boys 
heard the words. 

Seth attempted to rise; but had no more than 
gotten up on one elbow when a most violent 


46 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


nausea assailed him, and he fell back on the rubber 
blankets which had served as pillow, feeling much 
as he looked—desperately ill. 

“ Don’t feel like wiggling ’round to any great ex¬ 
tent, eh ? ” ’Lish asked, understanding full well the 
boy’s sensations, and so relieved at knowing his life 
had been saved that the temporary sickness seemed 
as nothing. 

“ I don’t see what makes me feel so bad,” and 
Seth did his best to speak in a careless tone. 

“ If it so be you ever get into the Department, 
lad, this ain’t the first dose you ’ll take, nor the 
heaviest. It ’s the smoke which came nigh to 
strangling you, and there ain’t a man that answers 
to Ninety-four’s roll-call who can’t tell exactly how 
you feel.” 

“ I’ve got to brace up pretty soon, or Dan an’ 
me will have to walk ’round the streets the balance 
of the night, now our housekeepin’ is broken up.” 

“ Don’t worry about that, lad. I reckon the 
captain will give you a shelter till daylight, and 
after that we ’ll see what can be done.” 

Then ’Lish, understanding that he could render 
no assistance, left the two boys to join his comrades, 
who were fighting the fire as gallantly in the lumber¬ 
yard as they would have done at a palatial residence. 

“ So Jip Collins had sand enough to try an’ burn 
us out, did n’t he ? ” Dan said interrogatively. 


JIP'S REVENGE. 


47 


I ’ll run across that duffer one of these days, and 
when I get through with him he won’t set anybody 
else’s shed on fire! ” 

“ The police will most likely get hold of him, 
’cause Mr. Davis knows all about what he threat¬ 
ened, an’ even if Sam Barney did n’t let out the 
whole story, the driver will.” 

Having said this Seth relapsed into silence, for 
his bodily condition was such that it seemed a 
severe exertion to so much as speak. 

The fire was subdued, but not extinguished, when 
the patrol-wagon was driven away with Ben Dunton 
on the front seat, and Dan asked in a tone of awe : 

“ Do you s’pose they ’re goin’ to carry us up to 
the engine-house ? ” 

“ It seemed as though that was what Mr. Davis 
meant; but yet I’m afraid we ’re bound for the 
hospital.” 

“ Well, say, you don’t catch me inside of one ! 
I ain’t goin’ to flock in with a lot of dyin’ folks jest 
’cause I ’ve got a little smoke down my throat,” and 
Dan, who was not suffering as much as his partner, 
attempted to scramble to his feet, whereat Ben 
Dunton shouted gruffly: 

“ Lay still there, you two kids, or I ’ll come 
down and know the reason why! ” 

“We ain’t goin’ to no hospital!” Dan cried 
angrily. 


48 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ Who asked you to ? You don’t allow we ’re 
running an ambulance for such kids as you, eh ? ” 

“ Where are we goin’ ? ” 

“ Lay still and you ’ll find out.” 

Seth had learned enough regarding a fireman’s 
life to know that the first engine at the scene of a 
conflagration must be the last to leave, therefore 
wherever Ben Dunton might be taking them, there 
was little chance of seeing ’Lish Davis until the fol¬ 
lowing morning. 

To the great delight of both the boys the patrol- 
wagon was drawn up in front of Ninety-four’s house, 
and Dunton asked: 

” Can you lads get out alone, or shall I lend a 
hand ? ” 

“ Are we goin’ to stay here all night ? ” Dan 
asked suspiciously. 

” Of course you are. It ’s the captain’s orders, 
and you ’re to have ’Lish Davis’s bed.” 

This was sufficient to cause a decided change in 
Seth’s condition. 

The fact that he was to sleep in the engine-house 
as if he had been a member of the Department was 
so great an honor that for the time being his illness 
was banished. 

The boys alighted from the vehicle without assist¬ 
ance and followed Ben Dunton into the building, 
where a report was made to the house-watchman re- 


JIP'S REVENGE. 49 

garding the guests, who were then conducted to 
the floor above. 

“ There’s where you ’re to sleep,” the fireman 
said, pointing to the driver’s bed. “ And you want 
to get in some precious big licks, for it ain’t often 
’Lish Davis puts himself out in this fashion for any¬ 
body, especially when he’s likely to be on duty six 
or eight hours. No skylarking, now, but get be¬ 
tween the sheets as quick as you know how.” 

No second bidding was necessary, and five minutes 
later the two boys were enjoying a greater degree 
of comfort than they had ever fancied would be 
possible, Seth refusing to join in the conversation 
which his partner would have started, in order to 
give himself wholly up to building air-castles,. all 
based on the Fire Department with himself rising 
from the grade of recruit to that of battalion-chief. 

Slumber closed their eyelids in due time, how¬ 
ever, and they journeyed so far into the recesses of 
Dreamland that neither heard the home-coming of 
Ninety-four, nor the bustle consequent upon clean¬ 
ing up and making ready for duty once more. 

It was seven o’clock in the morning when Seth 
awakened, and for the first time since having been 
told he was to sleep in ’Lish’s bed, he realized how 
much inconvenience and possible discomfort he 
might have caused the driver. 

“ Say, Dan, we did a mighty mean thing to sleep 
4 


50 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


here, an’ perhaps Mr. Davis had to set up all night. 
Hustle your clothes on as quick as you know how, 
so’s we can get down-stairs an’ tell him we ’re 
ashamed of it.” 

Neither of the boys was feeling any the worse for 
the painful experience of the previous night, and in 
a remarkably short space of time they were ready 
to descend, but not by the stairs. 

For the first time in his life Seth enjoyed the 
pleasure of sliding down the pole to the floor below, 
and this method of descending served to strengthen 
certain portions of the air-castles he had built just 
before falling asleep. 

The driver was found grooming one of the horses, 
and greeted the boys before either could speak, by 
saying cheerily: 

“ Well, how are you getting along after your dose 
of last night ? ” 

“First-rate, sir. We ’re as well as ever; but 
feelin’ mighty mean to think we used your bed an’ 
kept you up all night.” 

“ You did n’t do anything of the kind, lad. We 
got back about four o’clock, and I found plenty of 
spare beds for the short nap I wanted. I reckon 
you lost everything you owned, eh ? ” 

“ Yes, sir; but that was n’t very much. My 
box, brushes, and what we had brought home for 
breakfast.” 


JIP'S REVENGE . 


5 


How will you get another outfit ? ” 

I guess I ’ve got money enough for a second¬ 
hand box and brushes; but if I have n’t some of the 
fellers will lend me what’s needed, an’ I ’m goin’ 
now to pick up the things, so’s to get back in time 
to do the shinin’ here.” 

” There are brushes and blacking belonging to the 
house, and you can use them this morning, which 
will give you a little extra towards buying a new 
outfit. Have n’t been to breakfast yet, have you ? ” 

“ That don’t count, even if we have n’t, ’cause 
we can get something later,” and Seth, knowing 
where to find the tools of his trade, set about his 
customary morning’s work, while Dan lounged here 
and there, feeling that he was a very fortunate lad in 
thus being a guest of Ninety-four’s men. 

Half an hour later, in company with Dan, Seth, 
richer by thirty cents, set out in search of a second¬ 
hand box and brushes. 

Save in the way of questioning him concerning 
the boy who was believed to have started the fire in 
the lumber-yard, none of the men treated the boot- 
black other than in their customary manner, and 
Seth departed with the fear in his mind that they 
were glad to be rid of him. 

No sooner had he gone, however, than ’Lish 
Davis addressed three or four of his comrades who 
were near at hand, saying emphatically: 


52 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ Look here, that boy Seth is bent on gettinginto 
the Department, and I tell you when a lad sticks to 
one thing as he ’s stuck to that for the last year, 
some one ought to lend him a hand.” 

“You ain’t thinking of getting him taken on 
here, are you, ’Lish?” Walters asked with a 
laugh. 

“ I ’ve got a plan in my head, and allow that the 
rest of you can help me through with it. If all 
hands of us turn to we can get the boy a job at 
headquarters, and he ain’t the lad I ’ve taken him 
to be if he don’t put himself in the way of being re¬ 
ceived as a recruit when he’s grown stouter and a 
little older. Now, such a lift as that won’t be much 
for us, and it may be the making of him.” 

“ Do you allow it ’s a good idea, ’Lish Davis, to 
help a boy into the Department when he might 
learn a trade which would n’t be that of risking his 
life two or three times every day ?” 

Would you turn tinker, or tailor, or candlestick- 
maker, Jerry Walters, in order to avoid risking your 
life two or three times a day ? ” 

“ It’s different with me, ’Lish. I ’ve been here 
so long I could n’t give it up.” 

“ And it would be almost as hard for that lad to 
give up his idea. I tried to frighten it out of him 
when he first came around here; but he did n’t scare 
worth a cent, and I tell you again that he ’ll make a 


JIP'S REVENGE. 53 

cracking good man for some company one of these 
days.” 

If there’s anything I can do to help the thing 
along, you may count me in,” Walters replied, and 
the other members of the company who heard the 
remark pledged themselves to the same thing. 

“ We ’ll let him hoe his own row till everything 
is ready, ’cause it may do harm if he gets to think¬ 
ing somebody is trying to give him a lift.” 

“ What’s to be done with the kid who started 
the fire ? ” 

“ I repeated to the captain all the “amateur” 
told me, so I reckon he ’ll be attended to. Is Ben 
Dunton in the house ? ” 

“ Upstairs asleep.’’ 

“ Then I’m going out for a bit. I want to see the 
battalion-chief.” 

“ Going to strike for Seth while the iron’s hot, 
eh ? ” 

“ That’s what I’m thinking of, Jerry,” and while 
Seth Bartlett was making ready to continue his 
business of blacking boots, ’Lish Davis began in 
his behalf the efforts which he believed would re¬ 
sult favorably, so far as the boy’s ambition was 
concerned. 


CHAPTER IV. 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


HE sidewalk merchants in the vicinity of the 



1 post-office were well informed of Seth Bart¬ 
lett’s loss by the time he arrived in that section of 
the city. 

Those who had not heard the story from Dan 
Roberts read an account of the destruction of Bax¬ 
ter Brothers’ carpenter-shop in the morning papers 
during the early part of the day before the business 
rush began, and thus it was Seth found himself the 
centre of a sympathizing crowd of acquaintances as 
soon as he crossed City Hall Park. 

Master Barney had but just returned from a jour¬ 
ney supposed to have been taken in search of the 
boy who had robbed him, and he immediately cast 
aside his own business troubles in order to “ work 
the case against Jip Collins,” as he expressed it. 

Sam was among the throng gathered to meet the 
homeless bootblack, and when others would have 
asked for further particulars regarding the conflagra¬ 
tion, even though Dan had given all the information 


54 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 55 

in his possession, the amateur detective checked the 
curious ones by saying sharply: 

“ This ain’t any time to talk foolishness, ’cause if 
I’m goin’ to take up this case I must get right down 
to it before Jip has a chance to run very far.” 

“ What do you mean by takin’ up the case ?’’ 
Seth asked in surprise, and Dan Roberts replied 
quickly: 

“ Sam says he ’s willin’ to go after Jip Collins, 
an’ will stick at it till he catches him.” 

” That’s what I ’ve ’greed to, an’ I 'm in dead 
earnest, Seth. Of course you can’t afford to pay a 
reg’lar detective a whole lot of money jest to find 
Jip for you; but I can do the work as well, an’ you 
need n’t put out a cent more ’n I’m called on to 
spend for expenses.” 

” What do you want of Jip ?” Seth asked in 
surprise. 

” To have him ’rested for settin’ fire to your shed, 
of course.” 

** I don’t want anythin’ of the kind. I reckon 
he’s sorry enough for what he did without my tryin’ 
to make more trouble for him.” 

“ Do you mean to say you ’re willin’ he should 
burn the shed an’ come pretty nigh killin’ you ? ” 

“ Course I ain’t willin’; but now it’s been done 
there’s no need for me to try to put him in jail, 
’cause it won’t do any good, an’ I ’d feel bad to 


56 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


think any feller I knew was up to Sing Sing doin’ 
time.” 

It was evident that but few of the sidewalk mer¬ 
chants agreed with Seth in the view he took of the 
matter. 

The majority of them believed Jip should be pur¬ 
sued until captured, and then punished to the full 
extent of the law. 

Some were inclined to the opinion that Sam Bar¬ 
ney might possibly succeed in running down the 
culprit, but these credulous ones were the most in¬ 
timate friends of the amateur detective, and by far 
the larger number of the throng thought a formal 
complaint should be lodged with the officers of the 
law against the boy who had so nearly caused the 
death of Seth and Dan. 

Sam Barney was literally astounded at the for¬ 
giving spirit which the would-be fireman displayed, 
and this first burst of astonishment soon gave way 
to something like anger. 

He said in what was intended to be a fine tone of 
irony: 

“ Well, you ’re too good, Seth Bartlett, that ’s 
what ’s the matter with you! Here ’s Dan been 
tellin’ that you were jest about the same as dead 
when Ninety-four’s men got in there. The snuggest 
house in town burned, an’ you thrown out of a 
home! After all that you’ve got the nerve to say 


SAM THE DETECTIVE . 


57 


there’s no reason why we should catch Jip Collins! 
I ain’t certain as you’ve got anythin’ to do with it. 
S’posen the cops find out what was done—an’ most 
likely Ninety-four’s driver that you claim is a chum 
of yours will tell ’em—how are you goin’ to help it 
if they try to find him ? ” 

“ I can’t, an’ that’s a fact; but I have n’t got to 
start the thing myself.” 

“ What would you do if you should meet him 
right here this very minute ? ” 

“ I’m ’fraid I ’d thump him.” 

“’Fraid!” Sam repeated sarcastically. “Why, 
you ought ’er pound his head off, an’ then have him 
jugged.” 

“You see, it’s jest like this, fellers,” Seth said in 
an apologetic tone as he looked around at his friends 
and acquaintances, understanding full well that they 
disapproved of his leniency. “ It’s jest like this: 
If a feller gets to fightin’ on the street he’s likely to 
be pulled in for it, an’ then perhaps he has to go 
down to the Island for ten days or so. Now you all 
know I ’m tryin’ to work into the Department, an’ 
what kind of show would I stand if there was a 
record like that against me ? Fellers who get up a 
name for fightin’ don’t ’mount to very much, ’cord¬ 
in’ to what I’ve seen, an’ that’s why I said I was 
’fraid I might thump Jip. You see, what’s done 
now will stand against me when I ’m old enough to 


58 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


be a fireman, an’ I ’ve got to look out mighty care¬ 
ful for that. Now, so far’s puttin’ Jip in jail goes, 
I don’t want anythin’ to do with it.” 

“ I can’t see how that’s goin’ to give you a bad 
name,” some one of the throng cried. 

“ I reckon it could n’t; but it might stand against 
Jip when he grows up, an’ if I should let Sam take 
the case I’d be hurtin’ Jip more ’n he did me, so it 
would n't be fair.” 

“ But you don’t allow folks can go ’round settin’ 
fire to houses an’ tryin’ to burn other people up 
without havin’ to pay for it ? ” 

“ Course I don’t, an’ Jip ought ’er get it hot for 
what he ’s done; but I won’t be the one to send 
him up the river.” 

“If that’s the way Seth feels ’bout it we have n’t 
got any right to kick,’’ Dan suggested, and Sam 
Barney cried sharply: 

“ I say we have! Jest ’cause Seth is gettin’ so 
awful good on account of wantin’ to go into the 
Department, there’s no reason why we should let 
Jip Collins sneak away after what’s been done, an’ 
I ’ll take up the case on my own hook rather than 
see him wiggle out of it.’’ 

“ Have you got the feller yet what stole your 
money ?’’ Dan asked in a meaning tone, whereat 
the remainder of the company set up a loud shout of 
derision, much to the amateur detective’s discomfort. 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


59 


If I have n’t that ’s no sign I can’t. I reckon I 
know enough ’bout the business to handle two cases 
at the same time, if I want to, an’ you ’ll see if I 
don’t pull Jip Collins over the coals before I ’m a 
week older.” 

Then Sam stalked away with the bearing of one 
who feels that he has been injured, and the re¬ 
mainder of the party discussed the events of the 
previous night without further reference to the arrest 
of the evil-doer. 

When the subject had been exhausted Seth made 
inquiries concerning any bootblack’s outfit which 
might be for sale, and half an hour later he was 
once more the owner of a box and brushes. 

“ The fire has cost me seventy cents, besides the 
breakfast we lost when the place was burned,” he 
said to Dan, and the latter replied mournfully: 

“I ’d have been willin’ to give a good deal 
more ’n that right out of my own pocket, poor as 
trade has been, than to lose the snuggest lodgin’- 
place in this town. We ’ll never find anythin’ that 
will come up with that shed.” 

“ Cryin’ won’t help out on it. What we’ve got 
to do is to hunt up another shanty where we can 
bunk in without givin’ up too much money, for after 
havin’ to buy a new outfit I can’t afford to fool away 
good dollars payin’ for a bed at a reg’lar lodgin’- 
house.” 


6o 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ You ’ll never get anythin’ that will come up to 
the shanty Jip Collins set on fire,” Dan replied 
sadly, and as the realization of their loss came to 
him with redoubled force now that the time had 
arrived when they must search for new lodgings, he 
gave way to anger against the boy who had wrought 
them so much mischief, as if believing this would 
mend matters. 

Seth waited patiently until his partner had in¬ 
dulged in such outburst several moments, after 
which he said sagely: 

” Now, look here, Dan, scoldin’ won’t fix things 
the least little bit, an’ there’s no sense in keepin’ on 
tellin ’bout how big a villain Jip Collins is. What 
we’ve got to do is to hustle, an’ in the long run 
we ’ll find that will pay better ’n ravin’. Do you 
know of any place where we can stop for a night or 
two till I ’ve had time to look ’round more ? ” 

If I did I’d taken it long ago, instead of payin’ 
you fifteen cents a week for half of your quarters.” 

“ Well, we’ve got to find one; that’s all there is 
to it. Now, s’posen, instead of tryin’ to do any 
more business to-day, we mosey right along about 
it.” 

” Where you goin’ ? ” 

“ I don’t exactly know. We ’ll kind-er loaf 
’round; that’s the way I found the carpenter-shop, 
an’ if it turns out we don’t see a place, why, it ’ll be 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


61 


a case of puttin’ up the stuff for one night’s 
lodgin’s.” 

I ain’t sure as I ’ve got money enough left to 
pay for a reg’lar bed.” 

I reckon I can squeeze out what ’ll pay the bills 
if you ’re broke. Now, come on.” 

Unconsciously Seth led the way toward Ninety- 
four’s house, not really being aware he was pro¬ 
ceeding in that direction, and after walking several 
blocks in silence Dan asked almost sharply: 

** Are you countin’ on their lettin’ us hang ’round 
the engine-house ? ” 

” Course not. The firemen can’t do anythin’ 
like that, you know. We was mighty lucky to get 
a bed there last night, an’ would n’t had it except 
that we’d been burned out.” 

” Then what are you goin’ up this way for ? ” 

” There ’s jest as much chance ’round here as 
anywhere, an’ of course I ’d sooner live near Ninety- 
four, ’cause I do a good deal of shinin’ for the men. 
Then ag’in, I don’t want to lose run of ’em, for per¬ 
haps some day ’Lish Davis ’ll give me a lift into 
the Department.” 

** There ’s no use lookin’ here, 'cause we ’d 
known if there was any place that would suit 
us.” 

” I ain’t so sure of that. You see, we was n’t 
lookin’ for one, an’ now if we go along with our 


62 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


eyes open there ’s no tellin’ but what we may 

y y 

run- 

Seth ceased speaking very suddenly, for at that 
instant the clanging of gongs could be heard far up 
the street, and Dan exclaimed: 

“ That sounds like Ninety-four.” 

“ Course it is. I ’d know her if she was in the 
middle of a hundred, an’ all of ’em cornin’ straight 
for me.” 

There was no longer a thought in the mind of 
either of the boys regarding the necessity of finding 
a home that night. 

Under no ordinary circumstances would Seth 
have allowed himself to be prevented from getting 
possible ” points,” and although Dan did not share 
in the aspirations of his friend, he was equally ex¬ 
cited by the prospect of ” going to a fire.” 

The two waited breathlessly an instant, expecting 
Ninety-four would continue straight on toward them, 
when from the opposite direction came the clatter 
of wheels and the booming notes of the gongs telling 
of the coming of a second engine, and they knew 
that at some point midway the two engines would 
be turned at right angles with their present course. 

” Come this way! It looks to me as though 
Ninety-four was slackenin’ up!” Master Bartlett 
cried as he darted forward, and Dan readily followed 
the advice, for while he did not approve of hi§ 



SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


63 


friend’s devotion to the Fire Department, he under¬ 
stood full well that Seth was thoroughly conversant 
with all such matters as might be learned by an 
outsider. 

“ There she goes, an’ I would n’t wonder if the 
alarm came from some of them big storage ware¬ 
houses, for Ninety-four is headin’ straight toward 
them.” 

The first engine had swung sharply around to the 
left, and the driver of the second was urging his 
horses forward at yet greater speed, in the hope, per¬ 
haps, of getting first water, when the two boys 
dashed up the street at their best pace, for to Seth 
at least there was but one engine and one point of 
attraction at any conflagration, however extensive. 

While it is probable he could have “ picked up as 
many points ” from other companies, it did not so 
appear to him, and in his mind it was only from the 
crew of Ninety-four he could gather such informa¬ 
tion as was most desired. 

Before they neared the station from which the 
alarm had been sent the throng on the sidewalks, 
added to from nearly every house, had so increased 
that it was only by taking to the street regardless of 
the danger to be apprehended from hose-carts, hook- 
and-ladder trucks, patrol-wagons, or water-towers, 
that the boys could make any satisfactory headway, 
and because of their being thus hampered in their 


6 4 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


movements Ninety-four’s men had already begun 
their work when Seth and Dan arrived at a point 
outside the fire lines where they could see the 
machine. 

Here a single policeman kept the crowd in check, 
and Seth whispered excitedly to his partner: 

“ Now ’s our time! If we ’re anyways smart 
we ’ll get in before that copper can catch us. Wait 
till somebody tries to pass, an’ then scoot. Don’t 
stop if he yells, ’cause he won’t dare leave here to 
chase us.” 

“ I thought ’Lish Davis said he ’d have his eye 
out so’s you could n’t get into the fire lines ? ” 

” That’s what he said.” 

” Ain’t you ’fraid he ’ll be mad if he finds you in 
there ? ’ ’ 

” He knows I ’ve got to do this thing, else I ’ll 
never get posted on the business; but of course 
if we should sneak in an’ he told us to march 
straight out ag’in, I ’d feel as though I ought ’er 
go. We won’t stand very near Ninety-four, an’ 
then there ’ll be less chance of his knowin’ we ’re 
around.” 

The opportunity which Seth desired came a few 
seconds later. 

Two gentlemen who were curious to see the work¬ 
ings of the Fire Department nearer at hand than 
was possible while they remained outside the lines, 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


65 


approached the officer on duty with the idea that it 
was only necessary to bluster or threaten a little in 
order to pass him without difficulty, and while they 
were alternately entreating and threatening Seth 
gave the signal. 

Stooping until their heads were beneath the rope, 
the two boys darted up the street, which was covered 
with a veritable network of hose, and before the 
officer was fully aware of their intentions they were 
lost to his view amid the panting, quivering monsters 
of steel and iron whose mission is to save, rather 
than destroy. 

“ There ’s ’Lish Davis on the engine! ” Dan said, 
speaking indistinctly because of his breath, which 
came thick and fast. “ It looks to me as if he has 
seen us.” 

” We ’ll keep over this way a bit where there’s 
no danger of his cornin’. Watch our men try to get 
up that stairway! Ain’t they the dandies! ” 

The fire was, as Seth had first surmised, in a 
storage warehouse, and it appeared from the out¬ 
side as if the entire second floor of the building was 
in a blaze. 

The men had battered in the doors only to be met 
by a mass of flames which seemed to roll in huge 
columns down the staircase to the new outlet which 
had thus been made, and just as the boys arrived 

the brave fellows were momentarily beaten back by 
5 


66 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


the scorching element until they stood on the first 
landing in plain sight of Seth and Dan. 

Jerry Walters and Joe Black were at the nozzle, 
with Ben Dunton close in the rear, and at the 
moment Seth called his partner’s attention to the 
scene the captain of Ninety-four shouted encourag¬ 
ingly : 

“ Now, hit it up, boys! Get in there! Get in! 
Get in! ” 

Then it was the flames retreated momentarily, 
and those who were doing such gallant battle ad¬ 
vanced step by step up the stairs seemingly into the 
very midst of the fiery cloud, until they were en¬ 
tirely hidden by the downpour of black smoke which 
came from the open doorway in volume sufficient 
to drive back even those on the sidewalk. 

While this desperate fight was in progress other 
men had raised a ladder and were prying open one 
of the iron shutters on the second floor in order to 
use more hose, and, yet trembling with apprehen¬ 
sion for the safety of those friends who had last been 
seen in the very midst of the fiery element, Seth in¬ 
voluntarily glanced toward the remainder of the 
company on the outside, while Dan looked back to 
make certain ’Lish Davis was not preparing to drive 
them from their place of vantage. 

That which he saw reassured him so far as any 
immediate danger of such kind was to be feared, for 


SAM THE DETECTIVE. 


67 


the driver of Ninety-four was unhitching his horses, 
knowing from the general appearance of the blazing 
building that the company had a long task before 
them. 

At that instant a crashing, rending noise as of an 
explosion sounded high above the din, and one of 
the iron shutters which the men had been trying to 
force open was hurled from its fastenings and thrown 
outward into the street, falling within half a dozen 
feet of where Davis was busy with his horses. 

Following it was a mighty rush of flame as if the 
interior was a seething mass of fire; loud shouts of 
command rang out, and then came even above all 
the din the clatter of a horse’s iron-shod hoofs as he 
dashed madly away in affright. Involuntarily Seth 
had followed with his eyes the flight of the shutter, 
and, unconscious of even having made a movement, 
he sprang toward Ninety-four as if in the time of 
danger that was his post of duty. 

He saw the heavy mass of metal as it struck the 
pavement, and instantly afterward was aware of 
what very few gave heed to because of the fact that 
all eyes were fixed upon the building, from whence 
might naturally be expected another explosion. 

The nigh horse of the team, one that had been in 
service only a few weeks, leaped forward in frantic 
terror, and by some strange mishap was dragging his 
driver behind him. 


68 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


At the moment Seth had no thought of possible 
danger to himself. His mind was upon ’Lish 
Davis’s peril to the exclusion of everything else, 
and almost involuntarily he sprang toward the mad¬ 
dened animal, Dan close at his heels. 

It was by accident rather than good judgment 
that he succeeded in gaining a hold of the bridle 
just above the bit, swinging himself outward by aid 
of his elbow to avoid being struck by the beast’s 
forefeet. 

His weight was not sufficient to bring the fright¬ 
ened animal to a standstill instantly; but he suc¬ 
ceeded in checking his speed so far that the engineer 
of Ninety-four had time to come to his assistance, 
and between the two the runaway was stopped. 

A buckle on Davis’s coat had caught in one of the 
rings of the harness, and this it was which held him 
prisoner after having been thrown from his feet by 
the animal’s sudden plunge. 

“ Are you hurt ? ” Seth asked anxiously, still re¬ 
taining his hold of the bridle, and the driver replied 
grimly as he scrambled to his feet: 

“ A man is bound to get a few knocks after such 
a course of treatment; but I reckon that all the 
harm which has been done is a little skin broken 
here and there. Do you know, lad, it ’s a mighty 
dangerous thing to jump for a horse in that 
fashion ? ” 



SETH CATCHES THE HORSE. 


Page 68. 


r 




















SAM THE DETECTIVE 


69 


I caught him all right, sir.” 

“ Yes, that I know, else I would n’t be standing 
on my feet this minute; but suppose you had 
missed your hold ? He would have had you under 
his feet in a jiffy.” 

” But he did n’t, so I can’t see as that counts 
very much; but all the same, I was willin’ to take 
the chances.” 

’Lish Davis, having assured himself that he had 
spoken correctly so far as personal injuries were 
concerned, took charge of the horse; the engineer 
went back to his post, and Seth, fearing lest he 
should be driven outside the line, was making his 
way toward the building once more with Dan by his 
side when the driver shouted: 

” Come back here, you young rattle-brain! How 
did you get inside the lines ? ” 

” Crept under the rope when the copper was n’t 
lookin’. It ain’t any very hard job to do that.” 

“ Don’t you know you ’re liable to be arrested 
for doing anything of that sort ? ” 

“ Well, we had to take the chances, you see, 
’cause it would n’t do to miss a fire like this,” Seth 
replied, half apologetically, and Dan cried in his 
shrill tone: 

“ It’s mighty lucky for you, Mr. Davis, that he 
did sneak inside this once.” 

” I ain’t likely to forget that, you rapscallion; 


70 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


but it has got nothing to do with you lads being 
where you don’t belong, and that ’s right about 
here.” 

44 Please don’t send us away!” Seth cried im¬ 
ploringly. 44 We ’ll keep out of sight so the chief 
won’t see us, an’ nobody will know where we are.” 

44 I ’ll take precious good care you can’t get into 
more mischief. Come over here, both of you, an’ 
stick right by Ninety-four till I give the word to 
leave. Don’t you dare to so much as move till the 
engine does, an’ if there’s any more mishaps, steer 
clear of them instead of doing your level best to run 
into trouble. Are you hearing what I’m saying ? ” 

44 Yes, sir,” Seth replied meekly, and then the 
boys obeyed readily, for Mr. Davis had stationed 
them in the very place above all others where they 
could see everything which occurred, and Dan said 
in a tone of satisfaction: 

“ It was a mighty good thing, your stoppin’ that 
horse. You never had a better chance to see a fire 
than this is, an’ we’d better hold on to it precious 
close.” 

“That ’s a fact; but I ain’t gettin’ so many 
points as I might if we walked ’round.” 

“You ’d better be satisfied with what’s a soft 
snap, even if you don’t get points,” Master Roberts 
replied grimly, and then he gave himself up to the 
pleasure of watching the battle between the firemen 


SAM THE DETECTIVE . 


7 1 


and the elements, for a third alarm had been rung 
in, and the number of men at work round about was 
more than either he or Seth had ever seen engaged 
at any one time before. 

The hours passed to these two small but de¬ 
cidedly interested spectators as if they were com¬ 
posed of no more than one quarter the usual number 
of minutes, and when night came the conflagration 
was subdued but not extinguished. 

Ninety-four had gotten first water, and, conse¬ 
quently, would be the last to leave the scene. 

Here and there the companies dismissed from this 
particular duty were taking up their hose, or already 
driving away in order to be ready for the next 
alarm. 

The throng of spectators just outside the lines had 
diminished in number until no more than an hun¬ 
dred remained, and ’Lish Davis came up with the 
appearance of one who has already done his full 
duty. 

“ Hello, Amateur! Still here, eh ? ” 

“You told us to stay, sir.” 

“ I did n’t allow that you ’d hold on to go out 
with us. We 're like to be here till well towards 
morning, an’ if you lads have got the price of a bed 
about your clothes you’d better be leaving. If you 
have n’t, I ’ll ante up something to hire one.’’ 

“ We ’ve got the money, sir,’’ Seth replied; “ but 


72 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


seein’ 's we belong to Ninety-four jest now, why 
can’t we stay till she pulls out ? ” 

“ Please yourself, Amateur, please yourself,” was 
the grim reply, and as the driver turned away he 
muttered, “ If that bloomin’ little duffer don’t get 
into the Department it won’t be ’Lish Davis’s fault, 
an’ that goes for a fact.” 


CHAPTER V. 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


S 


ETH was as happy and proud as a boy well could 
be. 


Never before had he dared to remain very long 
near any particular engine lest some of the firemen 
should take it upon themselves to send him outside 
the lines, consequently all his “ points” had been 
gathered as he moved from place to place. 

Now, however, he was in a certain sense attached 
to Ninety-four, and each member of the company 
had some kindly word with which to greet him, for 
it had become known to all that if the amateur did 
not actually save ’Lish Davis’s life, he had assisted 
in preventing that gentleman from receiving severe 
injury. 

Dan was enjoying the advantages thus arising 
from his partner’s popularity, which was quite suffi¬ 
cient for him, since, not aspiring to become a fire¬ 
man, he thought only of the present moment, and 
the privilege of remaining by the engine as if he 
were really a member of the Department was some- 


73 


74 


AN AMATEUR FI REM Ah. 


thing of which he could boast in the future among 
his comrades. 

It is true there was little of interest to be seen 
after the fire was apparently extinguished, when the 
men had nothing more to do than remain on the 
lookout for any smoldering embers which might be 
fanned into a blaze; but Seth’s interest was almost 
as great as when the flames were fiercest. 

Shortly after sunset hot coffee and sandwiches 
were served to the weary firemen, and Master Bart¬ 
lett believed he had taken a long stride toward the 
goal he had set himself, when the captain shouted: 

“ Come here, you two kids, and get your rations. 
While doing duty with Ninety-four you ’re entitled 
to all that ’s going.” 

Dan ran forward eagerly, intent only on getting 
his share of the food, for he was very hungry; but 
Seth walked slowly in order to prolong the pleasure 
of obeying the captain’s command, and could almost 
fancy he was wearing the city’s uniform. 

He stood by ’Lish Davis’s side when the lunch 
was passed around, and that gentleman said grimly 
as Seth blew on the steaming coffee to cool it: 

“You must n’t do that if you ever count on being 
a fireman, Amateur.” 

** Why not ? ” and Seth looked up in surprise. 

“ Because you must get used to hot things. 
Supposing you could drink that while it was boiling ? 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


75 


Don’t you reckon you ’d stand the heat from a 
blaze better and longer than them who need to have 
it mighty nigh cold ? ” 

This seemed reasonable to Seth, and without 
stopping to further consider the matter he instantly 
raised the cup to his lips, drinking the hot liquid 
until the pain was so great as to bring tears to his 
eyes. 

Then he lowered the cup slowly, striving manfully 
to repress any sign of suffering, and the driver gazed 
at him admiringly. 

“ That kid has got sand, eh ?” Davis said half 
interrogatively as he turned toward Jerry Walters, 
and the latter replied : 

“ He showed it when he jumped for the horse. I 
believe if you should tell him to roll over on the 
embers in that ’ere cellar, he’d do it.” 

“ I guess you ’re right, Jerry. Here, Amateur, 
don’t try to drink any more of that coffee till it 
cools a bit! I was only stuffing you when I said 
you ’d stand a better show of being a fireman if you 
could scald your throat without feeling it.” 

This evidence of solicitude for his welfare was 
sufficient reward for all Seth had suffered, and he 
glanced at Dan as if to make certain that young 
gentleman was fully aware of the great honor which 
was being bestowed upon his partner. 

Dan had no eyes except for the rapidly decreasing 


;6 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


store of sandwiches, and no thought save as to how 
he might get his full share without appearing abso¬ 
lutely greedy, therefore all this by-play had passed 
while he remained in ignorance of it. 

Once his hunger was appeased Dan curled himself 
up on a bale of half-burned merchandise near at 
hand, and immediately fell asleep. 

For him this association with Ninety-four’s men 
was nothing of more importance than the gaining of 
a meal and so much of a night’s lodging as might 
be possible; but to Seth it was as if the gates guard¬ 
ing the approach to his desires had been left ajar, 
permitting him to obtain a glimpse of that goal he 
so ardently longed to reach, and he patrolled the 
ruins of the building as if upon his shoulders rested 
all the responsibility of making certain the fire had 
been wholly extinguished. 

Not until fully an hour after midnight was the 
welcome word given for Ninety-four to pull out, 
and Seth awakened his partner lest he should be in 
the way of the tired men. 

“ Get a move on you! ” he shouted in Dan’s ear 
as he shook him roughly. “ There’s nothin’ more 
to be done here, an’ we don’t want to act like as if 
we was hangin’ ’round, when the machine goes into 
her quarters.” 

“ Why don’t you kind er loaf here till they 
have hitched up, an’ perhaps we ’ll get another 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


77 

chance to stay in the engine-house ?” Dan asked 
sleepily. 

“ Because I ’d be ashamed to do anythin’ like 
that. Get up so ’s we can be off before they pull 
out.” 

Jerry Walters had overheard this brief conversa¬ 
tion, although neither of the boys was aware of the 
fact, and he asked as the two were making their 
way out through and over the debris into the dark¬ 
ness : 

“ Where are you kids going ? ” 

“ I reckon it’s time we was home,” Seth replied, 
giving his partner a warning shake lest he should 
say that which would seem to indicate that they 
were sadly in need of a bed. 

“ What do you call home now the carpenter- 
shop has gone up in smoke ? ” 

” We have n’t hired any house yet; but we’ve 
got our eye on one up in Fifth Avenoo, an’ if the 
price ain’t more ’n we ’ve got in our pockets, I 
reckon we ’ll take it.” 

** Where are you counting on sleeping to-night ? ” 

** Most anywhere; it don’t go hard with Dan an’ 
me to find a place,” Seth replied with an assumption 
of carelessness, and again shaking his partner to re¬ 
mind him that there must be no approach to begging. 

” Look here, Amateur, I don’t reckon you know 
where you ’re going to sleep ! ” 


78 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ We ’ll turn in somewhere; that part of it will 
be all right. So long! ” 

“ Hold on here, you kid!” and Jerry Walters 
spoke in a tone which sounded unusually stern. 
“ Have you been with Ninety-four’s crew at this ’ere 
fire, or not ? ” 

” I reckon we have,” Seth replied, with a laugh. 

” Then we ’ll take care you have a roof over your 
heads for the balance of this night. Wait till ’Lish 
Davis shows up, and see what he has to say about 
letting the kid who pulled him out of a big hole go 
off to bunk in the streets. Come back, I say, till 
the driver gets here.” 

” We ain’t begging fora bed, Mr. Walters,” Seth 
said decidedly, as he obeyed the command, “ an’ if 
we turn anybody out as we did last night-” 

“ If you was begging a bed I reckon you would n’t 
get it from me; but since you ’re so mighty inde¬ 
pendent I ’m just contrary enough to see that you 
have one. I reckon it won’t strain the rules very 
hard if you sleep on the straw, an’ that’s about the 
best you ’ll get up at the house to-night, unless an¬ 
other alarm is sent in.” 

At this moment ’Lish Davis returned with the 
horses, and Jerry Walters held a short, whispered 
conversation with him, at the conclusion of which 
the latter said gruffly: 

” Amateur, go on with your partner up to the 



TARDY REPENTANCE. 


79 


house—there ’s no need of your riding—an’ wait 
there till I come. We ain’t going to have any sulk¬ 
ing jest because we've taken it into our heads to see 
that you get some sleep ’twixt now and morning.” 

** We ain’t sulkin’, Mr. Davis,” Seth made haste 
to say, “ an’ we ’ll go wherever you say; but I don’t 
want you to think we can’t find a lodgin’-place.” 

“ Get on with you! ” the driver roared as if in a 
fury of passion, and when the boys obeyed he said 
in a low tone to Jerry Walters: 

” The Amateur has got a good bit of spirit in him, 
and that ’s what I like to see. He shall come into 
the Department, eh ? ” 

“ I ’d like to see him there, for sure, and hope 
you ’ll be able to work it.” 

“ I don’t know as a fireman’s life counts much to 
the city; but if it does something ought ’er be done 
for the Amateur, ’cause if it had n’t been for him 
there’d be one driver short in the Department by 
this time.” 

Dan was in high glee at the prospect of spending 
another night in the engine-house, and said in a 
tone of satisfaction as the two made their way 
rapidly up the street: 

“ This is great luck, eh ? ” 

“ Yes, though I almost wish we was to shirk for 
ourselves.” 

“ What ’s makin’ you so foolish all of a sudden ? 


8 o 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Don’t you think a bed on the straw in Ninety-four’s 
house is better ’n bunkin’ in anywhere, or perhaps 
walkin’ the streets for the rest of the night ? ” 

“ Of course it is; but I ’m ’fraid the men will 
think we hung ’round for jest such a chance.” 

“ After your stoppin’ that hoss in time to save 
’Lish Davis from gettin’ all mashed up, I don’t 
reckon they can accuse you of coaxin’ for a bed.” 

Seth made no reply to this remark. 

He appreciated the invitation which had been 
given, even more highly than did Dan, yet feared 
it might appear to some of the company as if he 
should have gone away when the fire was gotten 
under control, and that by waiting when there was 
really nothing to be seen he had laid himself open 
to the possible charge of “ hangin’ ’round.” 

If Dan Roberts expected Seth would be petted 
and praised because of having rendered such a signal 
service to the driver of Ninety-four, he was disap¬ 
pointed. 

The two boys arrived at the house a few moments 
in advance of the engine, and Seth at once set about 
trying to make himself useful in the work of ” clean¬ 
ing up,” with the result that he rendered no slight 
assistance to the weary men; but yet not one of 
them commented upon the fact, or even so much as 
thanked him. 

After the horses were cared for ’Lish Davis went 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


8l 


to where Seth was at work and said gruffly, as if 
offended: 

I ’ve shaken some straw out for you kids, an’ 
when you ’re through with that job, turn in. Don’t 
get to skylarkin’, but keep quiet.” 

Then the driver went up-stairs. 

Dan, who was not in favor of working save when 
it might be absolutely necessary, crept slyly to the 
straw and lay down; but Seth continued at his self- 
imposed task, and gained much pleasure thereby, 
for the men treated the matter as if it was proper he *' * 
should perform his share of the labor, which made 
it seem very much as if he was in fact a member of 
the company. 

Not until fully an hour after the engine had 
arrived at quarters did Seth “ turn in,” and then he 
was so weary that his eyes closed in slumber almost as 
soon as he was stretched at full length on the straw. 

The last thought in his mind was a pleasing one; 
none of the company had thanked him for assisting 
in the work, and this was exactly as he would have 
had it. 

It seemed to the boys as if they had no more than 
fallen asleep, although as a matter of fact they had 
both been in Dreamland fully two hours, when the 
clanging of the gong, the thud of horses’ feet on the 
floor, and the rapid movements of the men aroused 

them. 

6 


82 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Seth had longed for and dreamed of just such an 
opportunity as this. 

To go out with Ninety-four from quarters was 
very near to being a member of the Department, 
and he made all haste to station himself by the big 
doors ready to follow the engine. 

“ Get out of there, Amateur! ” Mr. Davis shouted 
as he swung himself into the driver’s seat. ** One 
fire in a night is enough for you. Lay down an’ 
sleep; then you ’ll be in better trim to help with 
the clean-up when we get back.” 

Under no circumstances would Seth have ventured 
to remonstrate against any order ’Lish Davis might 
give, and even had he been disposed to do so, there 
was not time. 

The driver had hardly ceased speaking before the 
doors were swung open, and Ninety-four was drawn 
out with a rush and a clatter that sounded like 
sweetest music in Seth’s ears. 

’Lish kind er took the wind out of your sails 
that time, Amateur,” the house-watchman said with 
a smile as he closed the heavy doors. ” Ain’t one 
fire in twenty-four hours enough for you ? ” 

” I did so want to go out once with Ninety-four, 
an’ it seems too bad to miss this chance for I ’m 
not likely to get another.” 

” Why not ? ” 

’Cause I can’t expect to sleep here very often, 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 83 

an’ there ’s no show of my happenin’ ’round at the 
very minute an alarm comes in.” 

Don’t be so certain about that. You ’ll go out 
with them yet, or I ’m mightily mistaken. You ’d 
better take pattern by your partner, and get what 
sleep you can. That’s a rule we in the Department 
have, and it comes handy at times.” 

Dan had leaped from the straw when the alarm 
first sounded; but instead of making any attempt 
to follow the engine, crept back again with a smile 
of content. 

It is not probable he would have deprived himself 
of sleep even if permission had been given for him 
to ride on the engine. 

Seth lay down by Dan’s side, and despite his dis¬ 
appointment was soon slumbering peacefully; but 
only for half an hour, because at the end of that 
time he was awakened once more by the noisy re¬ 
turn of Ninety-four. 

The alarm had been sent in for a small blaze in 
one room of an apartment house, and was extin¬ 
guished almost immediately by the company whose 
quarters were nearest the signal station, therefore 
Ninety-four’s men had no labor to perform. 

However, it became necessary to wash down, 
make ready for a new fire in the furnace of the 
engine, roll Ninety-four and her tender to their re¬ 
spective places on the floor, adjust the harness, start 


8 4 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


the clock once more (for it had been stopped by the 
weight set free when the first stroke of the alarm 
rang out), and replace the weight which fastened 
the horses in their stalls. 

In a portion of this work Seth assisted while Dan 
remained apparently asleep on the straw, and when 
the captain had sent in to headquarters the three- 
fours, followed by Ninety-four’s number, thus tell¬ 
ing that she was again ready for duty, ’Lish Davis 
said to the amateur: 

“You did n’t miss much that time, eh ? ” 

“ I missed going out with the company, sir.” 

“ I don’t allow that cuts any very great figger, 
for there ’ll be many another chance when you ’re 
in better trim than you were this night.” 

“ Anyway, I ’ve helped wash up twice, an’ that 
counts for something, ’cause I ’m just so much 
ahead on points.” 

“ Take care you don’t stick your nose too near a 
fire some time, and get one point too many,” the 
driver said with a smile as he ascended the stairs 
wearily, and Seth called after him: 

I ’d rather it would be that way, Mr. Davis, 
than never know anythin’ about the business.” 

“ You ’ll do, Amateur, you ’ll do, if you ’re driven 
with a tight curb, an’ that’s what I count on seein’ 
that you have.” 

Then Seth lay down on the straw once more, 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 85 

and slept soundly during the two hours which 
followed. 

It was seven o’clock in the morning when he 
finally arose, and although he would have been 
pleased to remain there a while longer, the boy 
knew it was time to begin his day’s work. 

Dan grumbled not a little because Seth insisted 
he should “ turn out,” declaring he had hardly slept 
a wink; but, understanding he would not be per¬ 
mitted to remain there very many moments longer 
now the men were already astir, he arose to his feet 
and lounged lazily around until Seth had polished 
the boots of those members of the company who 
called upon him for such service. 

’Lish Davis came down-stairs just as Seth, his 
labor finished, was on the point of leaving the 
building, and he stopped the boy by asking in a 
friendly tone: 

“ Where are you off to now, Amateur ? ” 

“ Out chasin’ nickels. It’s time we hustled 
if we expect to find lodgin’s between now an’ 
night.” 

“ Flash up here about three o’clock this afternoon, 
and if I ain’t in, wait for me.” 

“ All right, sir.” 

Then Seth went out of doors followed by Dan, 
and when they were on the sidewalk Master Roberts 
asked curiously: 


86 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ What do you s’pose he’s got on hand for you 
at three o’clock ? ” 

“ Most likely he don’t want his boots shined till 
then.” 

“ It must be somethin’ more ’n that,” Dan replied, 
sagely. 

“ Of course it ain’t. What else could he want of 
me ? ” 

“ Perhaps he ’s goin’ to give you somethin’ for 
what you did last night.” 

“ I ’ll feel awful bad if he does.” 

“ I ’d like to know why ? ” 

“ ’Cause then it would seem all the more as 
if I was really an outsider; he would n’t give 
Jerry Walters anythin’ for helpin’ him out of a 
scrape.” 

“ I don’t see as— Jimminey! but there ’s Jip 
Collins! Ain’t he got the nerve to be snoopin’ 
’round here ? Say, we can nab him easy as a wink 
if you say the word! ” 

“ I don’t want to have him arrested. Anything 
like that would n’t bring back our lodgin’s.” 

To the great surprise of the boys Jip Collins ap¬ 
peared relieved rather than frightened at seeing 
them, and instead of running away advanced rap¬ 
idly, almost eagerly. 

“ Look here, Seth, I ’m mighty sorry I set fire to 
your place the other night, an’ if there’s any way to 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 87 

square it I ’ll hump myself the best I know how,” 
he cried while yet some distance away. 

“ It’s a big pity you was n’t took in this style 
before you touched her off, for then Seth and me 
would n’t be huntin’ a place to sleep,” Dan said 
sternly before his partner could speak. 

I know that,” Jip wailed, and Seth fancied there 
was a ring of real sorrow in his tones. “ I must 
have been crazy to do it, an’ after the match was 
dropped in the shavings I hoped they would n’t 
catch fire. Then I sent in the alarm, ’cause the 
light kept growin’ brighter, an’ nobody else saw it.” 

“ But you touched her off all the same,” and it 
could readily be seen that Dan’s anger was getting 
the best of him. 

** Yes, I did, an’ of course you can have me sent 
up the river for it; but what good will that do you ? 
Say, Seth, won’t you let me square it somehow ? ” 

“ It’s all over now, Jip, an’ the only way to fix 
things is by keepin’ mighty straight after this. 1 
don’t want to send you up the river, nor I won’t; 
but if the cops get to know who did it I ’m afraid 
they ’ll run you in without tryin’ to see whether I 
want it done or not.” 

“ I know all that, Seth; but I don’t believe I ’ll 
get jugged if Sam Barney keeps quiet. He says 
he ’s taken up the case, an’ is goin’ to push it 
straight through so’s to show how good a detective 


88 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


he can be when there’s a chance to spread hisself. ” 

“ How do you know that ?” Dan asked suspi¬ 
ciously. 

“ Bill Dean told me so. I met him up to the 
Erie Basin, where I ’ve been hidin’.” 

“ Why did n’t you stay there ? ” 

“ I did till I was ’most starved, an’ had to come 
out to earn some money so ’s to buy grub. Bill 
was round there last night lookin’ for a feller what 
runs on a canal-boat, an’ jest the same as tumbled 
over me.” 

“ You ’d stood as good a show of earnin’ money 
over in Brooklyn or Jersey City as here, an’ then 
there would n’t be so much danger of runnin’ across 
anybody who knew you.” 

“I’m goin’ to Williamsburg; but wanted to talk 
with you fellers first, so come up here where I could 
see if you was in Ninety-four’s house.” 

“ What are you countin’ on doin’ right now ?” 
Seth asked in a friendly tone. 

“ Find Joe Carter an’ try to get the ten cents he 
owes me, so’s I ’ll have somethin’ to buy the first 
lot of papers with.” 

“ Joe ’s gone to Baltimore to live; went off last 
night,” Dan said promptly, and an expression of 
disappointment came over Jip’s face. 

Is he the only feller who owes you anythin’ ? ” 
Seth asked. 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


89 


“ Yes, an’ I reckon he’s the only one who would 
try to give me a lift after what I ’ve done. He 
was-’ * 

“ Where ’s them swell Brooklyn chums of yours ?” 
Dan interrupted. 

“ They went dead back on me after I started the 
fire, an’ Bill Dean says they told Sam Barney all 
about it. If Sam would only let up on me I ’d show 
that I could be as square as any of the fellers/’ 

I don’t reckon you ’ll ever do that,” Dan cried 
angrily, and Seth added soothingly: 

I ’ll see Sam to-day, an’ do all I can to make 
him drop the case, ’cause it don’t seem to me he’s 
got any right to take it up unless I say the word. 
Now, I ’m goin’ to lend you fifteen cents, Jip, an’ 
you need n’t worry ’bout payin’ it back for quite a 
spell. There ’s plenty of places to sell papers in 
where the fellers don’t know you, an’ after a while 
you can come ’round City Hall again.” 

” You ’re goin’ to lend me money after what I 
did ? ” Jip cried in astonishment not unmixed with 
fear, for he failed to understand why the boy he had 
tried to injure should be so generous. ” I counted 
on your thumpin’ me, an’ I ’d stood still to let you 
do it-” 

“ If Seth Bartlett has gone crazy there ’s no 
reason why I should n’t serve you out, Jip Collins! ” 
and Dan advanced threateningly. “ I ain’t sich a 



90 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN 


chump as to pay a feller for tryin’ to burn me to 
death, an’ I ’m goin’ to knock your two eyes into 
one, ’stead of throwin’ away good money on a 
duffer like you ! ” 

Jip made no effort to defend himself, and Dan 
had raised his hand to strike the first blow when 
Seth stepped in front of him. 

** Don’t do anythin’ like that, Dan! Jip is sorry, 
an’ there’s nothin’ more he can do or say.” 

” There’s a good deal more I can do! ” and by 
this time Master Roberts had worked himself into a 
towering passion. 

“ Go away, Jip! Seth cried, clasping Dan by 
the body in such a manner as to pin the boy’s arms 
to his side. “ Clear out, an’ after he gets over his 
mad a little he ’ll come ’round all right.” 

” It would only be servin’ me in decent shape if 
he should jest about knock my head off,” Jip replied 
penitently, making no move toward seeking safety 
in flight. 

“ I won’t have Dan fightin’ in the streets, an’ 
there’s no reason now why you should be thumped,” 
Seth cried, speaking indistinctly because of his efforts 
to hold Master Roberts in check. “ Get away as 
quick as you can ! ” 

I ’ll go if you say the word, though I ain’t cer¬ 
tain but he’d better do what he’s tryin’ for. You ’re 
a jim dandy, Seth Bartlett, an’ I ’ll square everythin’ 


TARDY REPENTANCE. 


9 1 


with you some day. I ’m sleepin’ in a boat up at 
the Erie Basin, an’ I wish you’d come there to see 
me; I ’d like to let you know how sorry I am for 
what I did.” 

Dan was making the most strenuous efforts to 
free himself from Seth’s grasp, and the latter held 
him captive only by the greatest exertion. 

“ Don’t hang’round here any longer, Jip! Get 
away quick, an’ I ’ll see you again some time.” 

“ Will you come up to the Basin ? ” 

“ Yes, yes,” Seth replied hurriedly, hardly under¬ 
standing the promise he made because of his anxiety 
to prevent a fight, and Jip started off rapidly, crying 
as he ran: 

“ You ’re a dandy, Seth Bartlett, an’ I ’ll pay you 
off for this as true as I live! ” 

Not until Jip was two blocks or more away did 
Seth release his hold and turn to face Dan in his 
wrath. 


CHAPTER VI. 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 

D AN was in a fine temper when Seth finally re¬ 
leased his hold, and after understanding that 
it would be useless to pursue the fugitive he turned 
upon his partner savagely. 

“ A nice kind of a chump you are! Let a feller 
burn your house down, an’ then pay him fifteen 
cents for doin’ it! After that, when I make up my 
mind to give him the dose he needs, you turn 
against me to help him! I s’pose that’s what you 
call bein’ a chum of mine ? ” 

“ That’s exactly what it is, Dan,” Seth replied 
soothingly. “ After you ’ve cooled off a bit you ’ll 
be glad I did n’t let you pitch into a feller who 
would n’t raise his hands.” 

“ He did n’t ’cause he don’t dare.” 

If a feller had any spunk about him he would 
dare to do all he could while somebody else was 
thumpin’ him. Jip feels bad for what he did to us, 
an’ would stand still to let you pound him; but it 
could n’t have done you any good, Dan. You don’t 
want to get the name of bein’ a bruiser.” 


92 


AN OBSTINA TE DETECTIVE . 


93 


" I’d be willin’ to take ’most any kind of a name 
rather ’n let Jip Collins off without so much as 
turnin’ a hair on his head! ” 

“ That’s the way you feel jest now ’cause you ’re 
off your base; but wait a couple of hours, an’ then 
you ’ll talk different.” 

“ I won’t if I live to be twice as gray-headed as 
ever Methuselah was, for it’s a downright shame to 
let him go with money in his pockets after tryin’ to 
kill us.” 

“ He was hungry.” 

“ It would do him solid good to starve to death.” 

** He turned in the alarm, an’ if he had n’t done 
that we’d been burned to death.” 

** I notice he did n’t do it till the fire got a 
mighty good start, an’ then I reckon it was only 
’cause he grew scared. If you ’re so ’fraid of gettin’ 
your name up for fightin’, you might er stood still 
and let me have a whack at him. I don’t see how 
that could have hindered your slippin’ into the De¬ 
partment. I would n’t be quite so mad if you 
had n’t given him the money.” 

“ He was hungry, Dan, an’ I ’d do that much for 
the biggest duffer in the town.” 

Dan made no reply to this remark; but with his 
hands plunged deep in his pockets walked swiftly 
away in the direction of City Hall as if his one de¬ 
sire was to be free from his partner. 


94 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


Seth was not minded to let him go while in a 
temper, but at the same time he knew full well that 
it would be useless to attempt to stop him with 
words, therefore he followed without further re¬ 
mark, biding his time until the proper moment 
should come when the “soft answer” could be 
given. 

Without looking to the right or the left Dan con¬ 
tinued on, much as if bent on running away from his 
partner, until ten minutes had elapsed, when he 
halted suddenly, wheeled about and addressed Seth 
with his usual friendly manner: 

“ There’s Sam Barney over by that alley! ” 

Glancing in the direction indicated by Dan’s out¬ 
stretched finger, Seth saw the would-be detective 
moving cautiously along, looking stealthily around, 
and otherwise behaving as if he had suddenly taken 
leave of his senses. 

Do you s’pose he’s countin’ on findin’ Jip Col¬ 
lins in that fool way ? ” 

I reckon he thinks he’s doin’ the detective act 
in great shape,” Dan replied with a laugh, all traces 
of ill-humor having vanished. “ He says a feller in 
his line of business has to keep his eyes open every 
minute, an’ sneakin’ along in that style is what he 
’most likely calls bein’ wide awake.” 

Sam had arrived at the corner of the alley, and 
instead of walking boldly in to make a search, was 


AN OBSTINA TE DETECTIVE . 


95 


standing where he might be partially screened by 
the building, craning his head forward for a single 
glance, and then drawing it back suddenly, repeat¬ 
ing these movements about every thirty seconds 
with great regularity. 

Dan gave full rein to his mirth, for this method of 
playing the detective seemed to him very comical; 
but Seth checked him whenever his laughter became 
boisterous. 

“ If he sees us pokin’ fun at him we won’t be 
able to make any kind of a trade, an’ I don’t want 
to stir the feller up till things are fixed.” 

“ What things ? ” 

“ I want him to promise that he won’t go prowl¬ 
in’ ’round the town after Jip Collins.” 

“ See here, Seth, are you countin’ on keepin’ that 
racket up ? ” 

“ If you mean am I goin’ to give Jip a lift by 
tryin’ to keep that imitation detective quiet, I ’ll 
say ‘ yes.’ We both have got good reason to be 
mighty ugly because he burned us out; but it’s all 
over now, an’ he’s sorry. Let’s give him one more 
show—you an’ I—an’ if he goes wrong after this I 
won’t say a word against your doin’ whatever you 
like.” 

The lines on Dan’s face hardened as if he was de¬ 
termined nothing should turn him from his purpose 
of punishing Jip in such manner as he believed the 


9 6 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


latter’s misdemeanors warranted; but after one 
glance at his partner the anger vanished. 

“ Go ahead, Seth, an’ fix it up to suit you; I ’ll 
do what I can this time, even if it does rub against 
the grain. It ain’t because I ’m feelin’ sorry for 
Jip; but jest to please you.” 

” So long as you do what I ask it don’t make 
very much difference whether it’s for Jip or me, an’ 
you won’t be sorry, old man. Now we ’ll tackle 
Sam, an’ see if we can make him behave himself for 
a spell.” 

“ I reckon you ’ll find that a mighty hard job. 
He’s stuck’on the detective business as bad as you 
are on gettin’ into the Department, an’ this is the 
kind of a case he don’t get a whack at very often. 
I s’pose he thinks that catchin’ Jip would put him 
way up on the top notch.” 

Seth did not spend any time arguing the matter 
with his partner; but called loudly to the would-be 
detective: 

Hi! Sam! Come over here a minute! ” 

Master Barney pretended not to have heard the 
summons, although the words rang out clear and 
distinct above the noises of the street; but con¬ 
tinued his grotesque manner of reconnoitering the 
alley, and again Seth shouted: 

“ Come over here, Sam! There ’s no need of 
your bobbin’ ’round in that style, ’cause nobody is 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 97 

in the alley except a couple of little kids, who 
would n’t be very much frightened if you walked 
right up on ’em.” 

This time Sam turned, affected to be greatly sur¬ 
prised at seeing these acquaintances, and then 
crossed the street, apparently in an ill-temper. 

Don’t you know any better ’n to break up what 
a feller’s fixin’ ? ” he asked angrily as he stood be¬ 
fore Seth and Dan. ” I was doin’ some mighty fine 
work, an’ you ’ve spoiled it all by yellin’ so loud. 
Now the folks in there know I ’m ’round, an’ won’t 
so much as show theirselves.” 

” Do you reckon they believe you ’re a detec¬ 
tive ? ” Dan asked, trying in vain to check his 
mirth. 

“ Of course I do! ” Sam replied hotly. ” Folks 
have heard of me before this, an’ it stands me in 
hand to keep out of sight all I can.” 

” Who did you think was in the alley ?” Seth 
asked. 

“ I ’m lookin’ for more ’n one in this town, an’ 
counted on finishin’ up two or three little jobs in 
the detective line before I lighted out to nab Jip 
Collins.” 

“ Do you know where he is ? ” and Seth appeared 
disturbed. 

“ What kind of a detective do you allow I am if I 
don’t know that ? I ’ve got it all figgered out, an’ 


9 8 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


most likely I ’ll take a spin over to Philadelphy to¬ 
night. If I do, you ’ll see him in court to-morrow 
mornin’.” 

“ Oh, has he gone over there ? ” Dan asked with 
a great show of interest, pursing his mouth into shape 
for whistling to prevent an outburst of laughter. 

“ That ’s about the size of it; but he need n’t 
think he can run away from me.” 

” Look here, Sam,” and now Seth spoke in a 
serious tone; “ Jip did n’t try to hurt anybody but 
Dan an’ me, an’ we don’t want you to bother him. 
We ’re willin’ to give him a fair show, ’cause he ’ll 
take a big turn after this.” 

”1 can’t help what you want,” the detective re¬ 
plied obstinately. “ When I know that a feller has 
been burnin’ up houses it’s my business to run him 
in, an’ I ’m goin’ to do it.” 

” What is it to you, so long as we ’re satisfied ? ” 
Dan asked sharply. 

” See here, ain’t I a detective ? ” 

I ain’t so certain of that,” Master Roberts cried 
promptly. 

” I guess other people know it if you don’t, ’cause 
I ’ve had more ’n one case in this town. Now, so 
long as that is my business I ’m bound to take up 
anythin’ I hear about, an’-” 

“ Other detectives don’t do that; they wait till 
the chief sends ’em out, or somebody hires ’em.” 



AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 


99 


Dan’s reply staggered Sam for an instant; but he 
soon bethought himself of what seemed to be the 
proper answer, and replied : 

“ That would be all right if I was on the force; 
but so long as I ain’t it stands me in hand to work 
my way along, same ’s Seth’s tryin’ to do in the 
Fire Department. If I can catch Jip Collins and 
send him up the river, it ’ll be a big feather in my 
cap.” 

“ Would you be willin’ to send a feller to jail so’s 
you might get ahead in the business ? ” Seth asked 
reproachfully. 

“ Course I would.” 

“ Ain’t there anythin’ we can do to stop you 
from tryin’ to run Jip down ? ” 

“You might talk till you was black in the face, 
an’ then I would n’t let up.” 

Understanding that it was useless to hold any 
further converse with this obstinate detective in the 
hope of turning him from his purpose, Seth mo¬ 
tioned to Dan, and set off down-town without a 
word to Sam by way of adieu. 

“ I ’ll be in Philadelphy to-night, an’ to-morrow 
mornin’ Jip Collins will be in the lock-up! ” Master 
Barney shouted vindictively, and, glancing back, 
Dan saw him approaching the alley once more with 
cautious steps, as if it were beneath his dignity as an 
officer of the law to move in any other fashion. 


100 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ It ’ll be all right if he goes to Philadelphy,” 
Dan said sagely; “ but I ’m mightily afraid he 
won’t get money enough to buy a ticket on the 
cars.” 

“ I don’t believe he ever thought of goin’ there 
till we talked with him, an’ then only said it to let 
us believe he knew where Jip was. Sam ain’t any 
kind of a detective; but he can make a lot of trouble 
for Jip.” 

Seth was disturbed in mind because of the possi¬ 
bilities that Master Barney would work mischief for 
Jip Collins, and Dan shared in such forebodings, 
although in a much less degree. 

The two were walking on in silence, each trying 
to devise some plan whereby it would be possible to 
divert the amateur detective from his purpose, when 
they suddenly came face to face with Bill Dean. 

Hello, where are you fellers goin’ ?” 

“ To work.” 

“ Kind-er late this mornin’, eh? ” 

“ Yes; but we ’ll make up for it by pluggin’ in 
all the harder after we begin.” 

Bill hesitated an instant as if hardly daring to say 
that which was in his mind, and then asked in a 
meaning tone: 

“ Seen anybody in partic’lar this mornin’ ? ” 

“ Yes, we saw Jip, an’ then run across Sam Bar¬ 
ney,” Seth replied. 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 


IOI 


" I suppose Sam still holds to it that he ’ll pull 
Jip in ? ” 

“ Yes, an’ he counted on findin’ him in Philadel- 
phy, ’cordin’ to his talk.” 

Look here, Seth, you ’ve got good reason to 

make it hot for Jip after all he’s-” 

I would n’t do a thing to hurt him, an’ stand 
ready to give him a lift if he needs it.” 

“You ’re straight as a die, Seth Bartlett, an’ I ’ll 
bet you won’t be sorry for lettin’ up on him, for 
I ’m thinkin’ Jip will run different after this.” 

I hope so; but he ain’t out of the woods till 
somebody sets down on Sam Barney. We’ve been 
tryin’ to make him stop; but he won’t, ’cause he 
thinks it ’ll give him a big name if he arrests Jip. 
He’s up by Sweeney’s Alley bobbin’ round like a 
jumpin’-jack.” 

“ Say! ” Dan cried, as a sudden and what seemed 
like a happy thought came into his mind. “ Sam 
says Jip is in Philadelphy; now, s’posen all hands 
chipped in enough to buy a ticket for him to go 
there ? He ’d never get back, ’cause he don’t 
earn a dollar in a month, an’ Jip would n’t be 
bothered.” 

This plan appealed strongly to both Seth and 
Dan, and the latter asked as to the probable cost of 
such a scheme. 

This was a question neither of the boys could 


102 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


answer, and after some thought Master Dean agreed 
to make the necessary inquiries without delay. 

“ Dan an’ me will ante up a nickel apiece to get 
rid of him, an’ in case you don’t have to pay too 
much, the other fellers who would n’t want to see 
Jip sent to jail ought ’er put in the balance.” 

Master Dean was quite as eager to aid Jip as was 
Seth, and without waiting to discuss the matter 
further started off on his errand of mercy. 

Then the partners were at liberty to set about the 
work of the day; but it was now so late that they 
could not expect to earn very much money. 

“ We ’ll come out mighty slim for supper, I ’m 
thinkin’,” Dan said grimly. “You’ve got to knock 
off in time to meet ’Lish Davis at three o’clock, an’ 
the trade in evenin’ papers won’t be much more ’n 
begun by then.” 

“You need n’t go up with me if you don’t want 
to—I can meet you after the day’s work is over.” 

But I do want to go; I would n’t miss knowin’ 
what the driver has got to say, not if I went with¬ 
out supper an’ breakfast too.” 

I could tell you all about it.” 

“ Yes; but I want to hear for myself,” Dan re¬ 
plied decidedly, and thus the matter was concluded. 

Seth worked industriously once he was in that 
section of the city where certain rights he claimed 
were respected by his brother artisans, and although 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 103 

the majority of the fraternity were fully occupied in 
discussing the question of what Sam Barney might 
succeed in doing, he refused to spend any idle time, 
however much interest he felt in the matter. 

Dan also attended strictly to business, regardless 
of the many temptations to remain idle, and at two 
o’clock in the afternoon the partners had earned as 
much as would suffice to provide them with food 
during at least two days; but the question of lodg¬ 
ings yet remained to be settled. 

“ We ’ll go up now to see what Mr. Davis wants, 
an’ then we must hustle for lodgin’s. There ’ll be no 
more hangin’ ’round Ninety-four’s house after dark, 
’cause it looks too much as if we was beggin’,” Seth 
said as he met Dan, who reported that it would n’t 
pay to buy another stock of papers that day. 

Master Roberts made no reply to this remark. 

He secretly hoped that it might be possible for 
them to sleep in the engine-house one more night 
at least, and believed Seth was foolishly sensitive 
about the matter. 

According to his views on the subject, there was 
no good reason why they should not go even so far 
as to ask the firemen for a shelter, more particularly 
since they appeared to be so well disposed toward 
Seth. 

The two boys arrived in the vicinity of the engine- 
house ten minutes before the time set, and Seth in- 


104 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


sisted that they should not present themselves until 
the hour named, consequently both lounged around 
near by until the clock struck three, when they 
marched boldly up to the open door. 

The driver was on the lower floor as if awaiting 
their arrival, and greeted Seth in a manner both 
familiar and kind: 

“ So you ’ve come, have you, Amateur ? I was 
beginning to think you ’d struck a business rush, and 
I should n’t see you before to-morrow.” 

“ You said we was to come at three o’clock, so I 
waited ’round till then.” 

** Afraid to get here ahead of time, eh ? ” 

“ I thought it was best to do as you told us, 
though we’ve been loafin’ outside for ten minutes.” 

Mr. Davis chuckled audibly, as if in the statement 
was something very comical, and not until after 
several seconds had elapsed did he speak, when it 
was to ask: 

” Well, what have you two kids done about find¬ 
ing a place where you can sleep ? ” 

“ We ’re goin’ to hustle lively after we leave here. 
We had to earn a little money first, an’ it was pretty 
late when we got down-town, so we could n’t do any 
huntin’; but you can make certain some place will 
flash up before dark.” 

“ I would n’t wonder if it did, Amateur, I 
would n’t wonder if it did. What made you late in 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 105 

getting down-town ? I thought you left here earlier 
than usual.” 

“ So we did, sir; but we met Jip Collins, an’-” 

** The kid who started the fire in the lumber¬ 
yard ? ” 

** Yes, sir, an’ he 's mighty sorry for what he 
did.” 

Then Seth repeated what had been said by the 
repentant boy, and gave a detailed account of the 
interview with Sam Barney, all of which appeared 
wonderfully amusing, not only to ’Lish Davis, but 
to all the men on the floor. 

” And are you allowing to adopt this 'ere kid who 
is setting himself up as a firebug ? ” the driver asked 
when Seth had concluded the story. 

” I’d like to give him one more show, for I don’t 
believe he ’ll go wrong again, an’ if we can get Sam 
Barney so far away that he can’t come back, it may 
be done.” 

** But what about us ? We 're bound to give up 
all such information as we may happen to run across, 
and it's a serious matter to keep a close tongue on 
anything of that kind.” 

“ Have you got to get Jip arrested ? ” Seth asked 
in alarm. 

” It's our duty, and I ain’t so certain that he's 
reformed. ” 

“ But you never can know till he 's been given a 


io6 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


chance, an’ it would be mighty tough if he had to 
have it put down against him when he grows up, 
that he’s been in jail.” 

“ I grant you all that, Amateur, yet the law says 
man or boy must pay the penalty for arson, and it 
would n’t be fair to make an exception in his case.” 

** What do you mean by arson ? ” 

“ That’s the name given to the crime of setting 
fires, and when the trick is played in the night, in a 
building where people are living, it costs the crimi¬ 
nal a good many years of his life.” 

’Lish Davis was speaking very seriously now, 
and Seth literally trembled with apprehension for 
Jip. 

” Ain’t there anything I can do to help the poor 
feller out of the scrape ? ” he asked in a tone which 
told that the tears were very near his eyelids. 

” That ’s what I can’t say right on the spur of 
the minute; but I ’ll think the matter over, and it 
may be we ’ll see a way out if you ’re dead sure he 
won’t try any more such games.” 

I don’t believe he will, ’cause he ’s feelin’ 
mighty bad, an’ promises to be straight after this.” 

I ’ve thought all along that he ought ’er be sent 
up for startin’ the fire,” Dan said with an air of ex¬ 
ceeding wisdom; “ but Seth has been makin’such a 
row about givin’ him another chance that I had to 
hold my tongue.” 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. io? 

I would n’t be surprised if the amateur was 
nearer in the right than you are, Daniel, though the 
officers of the law may look at the matter in a differ¬ 
ent light. However, the young reprobate has n’t 
been caught yet, even if that keen-eyed detective of 
yours is on his track, and we ’ll drop the subject for 
a spell. What I wanted to see the amateur about 
was lodgings.” 

Dan’s eyes sparkled, for he felt certain they were 
to be given quarters in the engine-house, and Seth 
looked really distressed. 

“ What’s the matter ? ” ’Lish Davis asked in sur¬ 
prise as he noted the expression on the boy’s face. 
“ It don’t seem to strike you right because I ’m 
thinking of where you ’ll find a shelter.” 

” I ’m ’fraid it ’ll seem like as if Dan an’ I were 
beggin’ for a bed. We can find one after a spell, 
an’ it would n’t be any new thing if we knocked 
around the streets a few nights.” 

“ Now, don’t distress yourself on the score of beg¬ 
ging,” the driver said with a hearty laugh. I ’ve 
come to know how thin-skinned you are on that 
point, and ain’t counting on giving either of you the 
value of a pin. But it so happens that a friend of 
mine lives in the next block, and he’s got a room 
in his attic that he’s just dying to let. I was telling 
him about you kids, and he ’ll make what I call a fair 
trade.” 


io8 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


“ Do you mean that we ’re to hire a reg’lar 
room ? ” Seth asked in surprise. 

“ Why not, if it comes cheap enough ? Now, this 
’ere place I ’m speaking of ain’t very swell, and I 
don’t allow he could let it to any but boys like you. 
He ’ll give a lease of it, with bed and such furniture 
thrown in as his wife can scare up, for fifty cents a 
week. By blacking Ben Dunton’s and my boots five 
mornings a week you ’ll have the price earned, and 
it ’ll pay a heap better than skinning ’round the 
streets, likely to be moved on by a policeman a 
dozen times ’twixt sunset and sunrise.” 

Seth looked suspiciously at ’Lish Davis. 

The possibility of hiring a “ reg’lar room ” at such 
a low price had never before entered his mind, and 
he feared there might be something in regard to the 
transaction which was being kept a secret from him. 

** Now, then, Amateur, what are you staring at ? 
Do you think I ’d give you any fairy story about 
the place ? You ’d better have a look at it before 
thinking it ’s a very big bargain,” and the driver 
leaned back in his chair laughing heartily, although 
Seth could not understand what had so excited his 
mirth. 

“ We ’ll be mighty glad to get lodgin’s at that 
price,” Dan said promptly, and Mr. Davis handed 
him a card, on the back of which was written an 
address, saying as he did so: 


AN OBSTINATE DETECTIVE. 


IO9 


“ Go to that place, and ask to see the room ’Lish 
Davis was talking about. If it suits you, take it, 
and if it don’t there's been no great harm done.” 

“You ’re mighty good to think of us in this 
way,” Seth said, feeling almost ashamed because 
of his previous mistrust. 

“ Yes, I reckon I am; but we ’ll hope it don’t 
spoil me,” and again the driver gave way to his 
mirth. 


CHAPTER VII. 


NEW LODGINGS. 

D AN was so eager to see the new lodgings that 
he could not wait with any degree of patience 
until Seth had fully satisfied himself regarding cer¬ 
tain matters connected with the leasing of them, 
but insisted on setting out at once, and his partner 
felt obliged to accompany him. 

Arriving at the address given them by ’Lish 
Davis, they found affairs exactly as he had stated. 

The room which had been offered at such a low 
rental was in the attic of an old-fashioned, pitch- 
roof house, and although it was not such an apart¬ 
ment as could readily have been let to adults, to the 
boys it appeared as the acme of comfort and even 
luxury. 

Mrs. Hanson, the mistress of the dwelling, had 
provided a fairly good bed for the lodgers, and the 
clothing on it looked so rest-inviting that Dan de¬ 
clared that it was hard to resist the temptation to 
“ turn in ” at once. 

There were two chairs, a rude stand on which were 


no 


NEW LODGINGS. 


Ill 


a water-pitcher and a basin, a small mirror, and an 
old table. 

The window boasted of a curtain; but the floor 
was carpetless, save for two well-worn rugs. 

Dan, fearing lest Seth might refuse to hire this 
very swell apartment because of the suspicion that 
some of Ninety-four’s men had agreed to pay a cer¬ 
tain portion of the rental in order that it might be 
offered at an exceedingly low price, promptly an¬ 
nounced his willingness to take the room, and when 
this had been done it seemed to Master Bartlett as 
if he was in duty bound to ratify the bargain. 

“ We ’ll pay in advance,” he said, as he counted 
out the required amount, thereby reducing his cash 
account to an exceedingly small margin. 

“ There’s no need of your doing anything like 
that,” Mrs. Hanson replied kindly. “ Mr. Davis 
says he ’ll guarantee that the rent is paid promptly, 
and that should be enough for me, without taking 
money before it is due.” 

“ Mr. Davis is mighty good, but there ’s no 
reason why he should back a couple of boys who are 
able to pay their own way. The rent is so cheap I 
was ’fraid he ’d been puttin’ up money on our ac¬ 
count, so’s we could afford to hire it.” 

“He said you were mighty independent, and I 
guess he ’s right; but you need n’t be afraid of 
getting any more than you pay for. This room 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


112 

could n’t be let to many people, and those who 
would be willing to live in such a place we would 
not want in the house, except in a case like yours, 
where a friend of ours says everything is as it should 
be. Mr. Davis is a very nice man.” 

“ You can jest bet he is,” Seth replied emphati¬ 
cally. “ He ’s been mighty good to me.” 

Then, having counted the money and promised 
to give a receipt in due form for the same, Mrs. 
Hanson left her new lodgers, and Dan cried when 
they were alone: 

“ Say, Seth, this kinder knocks the spots out er 
Baxter’s shed, eh ? It ain’t costin’ me but ten 
cents a week more ’n the other place did, an’ that 
bed is worth three times them figgers. Talk ’bout 
fifteen-cent lodgin’s! Why, the best I ever saw 
was n’t a marker alongside of this! ” 

“ It’s fine, an’ no mistake; but we’ve got to put 
up twenty-five cents every week for it.” 

” That ’ll be all right. I owe you a quarter for 
this week’s rent, an’ I ’ll pay it to-morrow or next 
day; I’ve got enough in my pocket now, but kind-er 
reckoned on havin’ a swell lay-out to-night for a 
celebration. Hold on here, an’ I ’ll go after some 
grub.” 

“ Do you s’pose we ought ’er thank Mr. Davis 
now for findin’ the room for us ? ” 

“ It ’ll do jest as well in the mornin’, an’ you ’re 


NEW LODGINGS . 


113 

so ’fraid of hangin’ ’round the engine-house that it 
don’t seem as if you’d better go there for nothin’ 
else but to tell him what we think of the place.” 

Seth would have been pleased could he have told 
Ninety-four’s driver what he thought of the new 
quarters, but Dan’s suggestion as to “ hangin’ 
’round ” was sufficient to prevent him from ventur¬ 
ing out. 

Then he tried to dissuade Dan from squandering 
his money on a feast, arguing that it would be wiser 
to keep what he had lest there should be a sudden 
lull in business; but Master Roberts refused to listen. 

“ Unless you ’re ’fraid to trust me for my share 
of the rent, I ’m goin’ to spread myself to-night. 
It’s too bad we had n’t known ’bout this before we 
come up-town, for then we might er knocked the 
eyes out er some of the fellers by showin’ it to ’em.” 

“ I don’t believe we’d better have too much com¬ 
pany, or Miss Hanson will make a kick. It ain’t 
likely she’s willin’ to have a crowd of fellers rushin’ 
in and out for fifty cents a week.” 

“ I s’pose that’s so; but all the same I ’d like to 
have the gang see how we ’re fixed.” 

Then Master Roberts went out to make the pur¬ 
chases, and Seth was left alone to familiarize him¬ 
self with his seemingly luxurious surroundings. 

Fully half an hour elapsed before Dan returned, 
and then he was accompanied by Master Dean. 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


1 14 

“ I found Bill hangin’ ’round Ninety-four’s house 
lookin’ for you, an’ thought the best thing I could 
do was to bring him right up here,” Dan said as he 
ostentatiously placed half a dozen small packages 
on the table. 

“Ain’t you fellers slingin’ a terrible lot of style ?” 
Bill asked, as he gazed around him. “ It strikes me 
that business must be boomin’ if you can afford all 
this.” 

“ It ’ll only cost twenty-five cents a week for each 
one of us,” Seth replied, as if thinking something in 
the way of an apology was necessary. 

“ What ?” and Master Dean was so thoroughly 
astonished as to be unable to speak for several sec¬ 
onds. Then he cried eagerly: “ Say, you don’t 
want to take another feller in, I s’pose ? I ’d like 
to get sich a snap as this! ” 

“ I don’t know as Miss Hanson would want to 
take another lodger. You might ask her, though, 
after we’ve been here a spell.” 

“ Why not have it settled now ? ” 

“ It seems to me as if you’d better hold off for a 
while till she sees how we flash up. ’Cordin’ to 
what she said, I don’t believe we’d got in here if it 
had n’t been for Mr. Davis.” 

I ’d like to come mighty well,” Bill said long¬ 
ingly, and then his attention was attracted to Dan’s 
movements. 


NEW LODGINGS. 


”5 

Master Roberts was busily engaged displaying 
his purchases on the table in such a manner as to 
make the greatest possible show, and there was no 
question but that he had succeeded in “ layin’ him¬ 
self out in great shape.” 

Fully a pound of bologna sausage cut in thick 
slices, four large crullers, two smoked herrings, two 
ham sandwiches, a pint of peanuts, and four apples 
caused the shaky table to look as if literally laden 
with dainties. 

Dan pushed it toward the bed, that one of the 
party might sit there, placed the two chairs at either 
end, and invited his companions to join in the 
feast. 

“ Pitch in an’ fill yourselves way up full! This is 
the first swell house I ever lived in, an’ I ’m willin’ 
to pay for style. After this I reckon Seth an’ me 
will skin along for grub same’s we’ve allers done, 
but I’m goin’ to have one blow-out if it takes every 
cent I’ve got.” 

No second invitation was needed, and not until a 
goodly portion of the eatables had disappeared did 
either speak. Then it was Bill Dean who broke the 
partial silence. 

** Say, I ’ve raised money enough to send Sam 
Barney to Philadelphy, if you fellers come up with 
the nickels you promised.” 

“ How much will it cost ? ” and Dan began search- 


II6 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

ing his pockets for the contribution which had been 
promised in his name. 

“ I can get the duffer over there for seventy-five 
cents, by sendin’ him with the emigrants. I gave 
him a big stiff this afternoon ’bout how we fellers 
would give him a chance to show how much of a 
detective he is, an’ he puffed ’way up, allowin’ there 
was n’t many men on the force in this town who 
could beat him. He believes it’s a great snap to 
go off huntin’ after Jip, an’ has n’t got head enough 
to think of how he ’ll get back. ” 

Here ’s my nickel,” and Seth produced the 
money, Dan following his partner’s example. “ I ’ll 
be glad if we can get rid of Sam; but I ’m ’fraid 
that won’t settle things for J ip. ” 

Then he repeated all ’Lish Davis had said regard¬ 
ing the matter, and when he concluded Master Dean 
was looking remarkably serious. 

If the firemen are goin’ to run Jip down, there 
ain’t much show we can keep him out er trouble. 
Don’t you s’pose the driver would kind-er help 
somehow ? ” 

“ From what he said this afternoon it did n’t 
seem as if he would, but perhaps he ’ll change his 
mind after a while,” Dan replied, not minded to 
cloud this first merry-making in the new home by 
disagreeable thoughts, and attempted to change the 
subject of the conversation by speculating as to 


NEW LODGINGS. 


ii 7 

what sort of a welcome Sam Barney was most likely 
to receive from the Philadelphia boys. 

“ They ’ll think he’s a mighty good feller till he 
lets out strong on what he can do in the detective 
business, an’ then they ’ll tumble to him,” Bill Dean 
replied with the air of one who has closed an argu¬ 
ment finally. “ So long as he leaves town we 
need n’t bother our heads about him; it’s Jip I ’m 
thinkin’ of, an’ it seems to me as if we ought ’er see 
him mighty soon.” 

“ Why ? ” Dan asked in surprise. 

“ Because he must know what ’Lish Davis says, 
else he’s likely to knock ’round Ninety-four’s house 
’most any time.” 

“ Why don’t you hunt him up ? ” 

“It ’s too late to tackle the job to-night; but 
what’s to stop all three of us from goin’ to the Erie 
Basin after Sam Barney leaves town ? Of course 
you ’re countin’ on seein’ him off ? ” 

“ I ought ’er ’tend right out on business,” Seth 
replied thoughtfully; “ but perhaps I can waste 
time enough for that.” 

“ Course you can. If you don’t get through with 
the shinin’ at the engine-house as early as usual, 
I ’ll hold him over till the next train. Then we can 
skip up to the Basin, an’ be back in time to start in 
with the last editions of the evenin’ papers.” 

After some reflection and many misgivings as to 


AM AMATEUR FIR EM AM. 


11S 

whether he was warranted in devoting so much of 
his time to others, Seth decided to do as Bill had 
suggested, and a place of meeting was agreed on. 

Then Master Dean took his departure, after con¬ 
gratulating the partners on having found such pleas¬ 
ant quarters, and reminding them for at least the 
tenth time that they had promised to ask Mrs. Han¬ 
son if she would take another lodger. 

When they were alone once more Seth set about 
clearing away the remnants of the feast, and while 
he was thus employed Dan paced to and fro, ad¬ 
miring himself in the mirror as he passed and re¬ 
passed it in such attitudes as he believed befitted a 
boy who was the lessee of such a swell apartment. 

Seth was not in a mood for conversation. The 
question in his mind was as to whether he was bet¬ 
tering or weakening his chances for admission into 
the Department by thus occupying regular lodgings. 

The argument was very equally balanced. In the 
first place, he had followed ’Lish Davis’s advice, and 
by so doing it hardly seemed as if he could go 
astray; but as opposed to this was the fact that he 
was not as likely to be awakened by Ninety-four 
when she responded to an alarm, and, consequently, 
his opportunities for getting points would scarcely 
be as good. 

However, he settled the matter with himself 
finally by reflecting that he had already taken the 


NEW LODGINGS. 


119 

step, and could not well back out now after having 
agreed to occupy the apartment, therefore it was 
unwise to indulge in misgivings. 

There was no trouble in Dan’s mind ; he was thor¬ 
oughly well satisfied with the situation, and instead 
of discussing any possibilities, he congratulated Seth 
and himself very heartily. 

“ All this swellin’ will cost us twenty-five cents a 
week, an’ it stands us in hand to scoop the biggest 
good time out of it we can. I’m goin’ to turn in, 
for what’s the use of payin’ for a bed if you only 
get into it for the sake of sleepin’ ? I want ’er 
lay awake a spell so’s to know what a great racket 
I’m havin’.” 

He had made his preparations for retiring while 
Seth yet stood at the window looking out thought¬ 
fully, and once beneath the clothing cried excitedly: 

” Say, hurry up an’ get in here! This is the 
greatest snap I ever struck! It ’s twice as soft as 
what we slept in over to Ninety-four’s house, an’ 
when trade is dull I ’ll come up here an’ snooze all 
the time.” 

“ You ’ll stand a good chance of goin’ broke if 
you do,” Seth replied with a laugh, and then he 
joined his partner. 

Dan was not able to remain awake very long for 
the purpose of realizing what a “ great racket ” he 
was having, for slumber closed his eyes shortly after 


20 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


he lay down, and the day had fully dawned before 
he was again aware of his surroundings. 

But for Seth, Master Roberts might have slept 
until noon, and even when he was aroused the de¬ 
sire to linger in that rest-inviting bed was so great 
that he proposed to neglect work in order to remain 
there. 

” You go over to the engine-house, an’ I ’ll stay 
here till you ’ve finished your job there. I don’t 
b’lieve papers will sell very well to-day.” 

“ See here, Dan, if you ’re goin’ to loaf in bed 
half the time it ’ll be best for us to stop swellin’, 
else we shan’t earn enough to pay the rent. You 
must come down to business, an’ might as well be¬ 
gin now, for it won’t be any easier to get up to¬ 
morrow.” 

Dan was disposed to grumble a little at thus being 
forced to arise; but once he had plunged his face 
into a basin of cold water his indolence vanished. 

The boys made a hearty breakfast from the re¬ 
mains of the previous night’s feast, and then Dan 
hurried away to purchase his stock of papers while 
Seth went to the engine-house. 

** Well, how did you sleep last night ? ” the driver 
asked as he entered. 

” Great! That place is away up in G; but the 
only trouble is that I shan’t know when Ninety-four 
goes out.” 


NEW LODGINGS. 


121 


“ It won't hurt if you don't. I 've about made 
up my mind that such business must be stopped." 

Seth looked at 'Lish in pained surprise, and there 
was an ominous quivering of his lip as he asked: 

“ What's the reason I can't turn out at the fires ? 
I '11 never get ahead if I don’t pick up points." 

“ That is n’t the best way to do it, my boy," the 
driver said in a kindly tone. “ I 've been thinking 
about your plan of getting into the Department, and 
come to the conclusion that, seeing ’s you ’re so set 
on it, we'd better lend a hand." 

The expression of sorrow on Seth’s face changed 
very suddenly as the driver ceased speaking an in¬ 
stant, and in its place came a flush of joy so great as 
to seemingly prevent him from speaking. 

" Yes, Amateur, all of us have taken up the idea 
that you 're to be a fireman, though I don’t say as 
it's the kind of a life a boy should hanker for, and 
we’ve been working to get you into a place where 
you can learn the business." 

“ Do you really mean that ? " Seth cried, fearing 
lest he had misunderstood the words. 

“ I should n’t be saying it if I did n’t, Amateur," 
Davis continued, gravely. “ Of course you can’t 
expect any promise of a place in the Department 
till you've got more years on your head ; but we’ve 
struck a plan which will work all right if you ’re the 
lad I 've always taken you to be." 


122 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


Seth was literally breathless now. It would have 
been impossible for him to speak, and seeing how 
great was the suspense Mr. Davis added quickly: 

“ We ’ve got a job for you up at headquarters. 
You ’ll be called on to sweep floors, wash windows, 
build fires, and do odd jobs generally; but at the 
same time you ’ll be in what’s called the general 
school of instruction—where the men who want to 
get into the Department are put on probation, so to 
speak. It’s been promised us who run with Ninety- 
four, that if you behave yourself you shall have a 
chance to learn the drill, and once that has been 
done, Amateur, you ’ll be in shape to join us as 
soon ’s you ’ve got size to your body.” 

Big tears of delight stood in Seth’s eyes as he 
stammered and hesitated in trying to give words to 
his gratitude, and understanding what was in his 
mind, ’Lish Davis added: 

“ Never mind about trying to say anything, 
Amateur. We don’t want thanks now, because we ’ll 
get them when you show yourself the kind of a boy 
we’ve claimed you are. It ’s a case of your picking 
up points all the time; but you ’ll have plenty of 
hard work, and mighty poor pay. You ’ll get two 
dollars a week and your grub. Later I’m reckoning 
you can sleep in the building; but at the start it ’s 
a case of having a home elsewhere, and Mrs. Han¬ 
son’s house about fills the bill.” 


NEW LODGINGS. 123 

“Two dollars every week is big money/' Seth 
managed to say. 

“ Not so much as it seems just now, because you 'll 
need to come out a bit stronger in the way of 
clothes. We can’t afford to have you go there 
togged out the way you are, because we've said you 
were a kid that belonged to us. All hands here 
have chipped in to buy a full suit like our own, with 
the exception of the brass buttons, and you must 
take it as a present from us. There '11 be no 
squirming on account of accepting the present, 
otherwise you don’t go on the new job. We '11 
have the togs ready in a couple of days, and from 
this out you '11 do no more shining 'round the town. 
Spend to-day and to-morrow in settling up your 
business, and then we '11 launch you into the berth 
from which you '11 come out a fireman, if it so be 
you 'tend right close to work. We've cracked you 
up mighty high, Amateur, and if you don’t toe the 
mark it '11 be the same as proving us liars.’’ 

Again Seth tried to speak, and again he failed, 
whereupon 'Lish Davis said gruffly: 

“ I reckon you want time to think it over, Ama¬ 
teur. Take a spin ’round town closing out your boot¬ 
blacking business, and flash up here this evening. 
Remember, there 's to be no more running to fires 
except you get a straight invitation from some of 
Ninety-four’s men.’’ 


124 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 


“ Of course I 'll black boots here same as I ’ve 
allers done ? ” Seth said in a tremulous voice. 

“ It won't look well, Amateur, it won’t look 
well." 

“ But I 'd a good deal rather, Mr. Davis. You 
an’ all hands here have been mighty good to me, 
an’ there’s no other way I can show how I feel 
about it.” 

“ You can keep your eyes wide open up to head¬ 
quarters, and that ’ll do us more good than if you 
kept our boots in a regular patent-leather polish all 
the time.” 

“ Please let me do somethin’ for you, Mr. Davis. 
I ’ll get on up at headquarters as fast as any feller 
can; but I want to keep my job here so ’s to show 
how I feel on account of what you ’re doin’ for me.” 

All the members of the company who were on 
the lower floor had listened to this conversation, 
and now, when ’Lish Davis hesitated to give the 
desired permission, Ben Dunton cried: 

Let Amateur manoeuvre as he likes, ’Lish. I 
don’t wonder he wants to do what he can, an’ so 
long as he does n’t black boots anywhere except 
here, I can’t see that it ’ll work any harm.” 

“ All right, Amateur,” Mr. Davis said after a 
brief hesitation; “you shall do as Ben thinks is 
right, though there must be no more of that busi¬ 
ness outside of this house, ’cause you ’ve just the 


NEW LODGINGS . 


125 


same as begun to hatch into a fireman, and we can’t 
afford to have it said we could n’t ante up enough 
to keep you going.” 

Seth was delighted at receiving such permission, 
for by thus being allowed to work for Ninety-four’s 
men it was as if he occupied a definite place among 
them; whereas if this had been denied it would 
have seemed almost as if he had been cast out. 

He blacked every pair of boots he could find, and 
at first refused to take pay for the labor; but ’Lish 
Davis prevented such gratuitous work by saying 
sternly: 

** Take your pay like a man, Amateur, and look 
pleasant about it. There ’ll be no chance for you 
to handle the city’s money until after being at head¬ 
quarters a month, and in the meantime you’ve got 
to pay your bills. I did count on lending you 
enough to pull through on; but perhaps this will be 
the best way. What about that firebug of yours ? 
Has the imitation detective caught him yet ? ” 

Seth told of Bill Dean’s plan to prevent Sam from 
working mischief, and the story caused the men to 
laugh heartily. 

“ That boy Bill must have quite a head on his 
shoulders,” ’Lish Davis said when his mirth had so 
far subsided that it was possible for him to speak. 
“ You can tell the firebug that he ’d better give 
this section of the city a wide berth for a spell, and 


2 6 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN 


if he walks a chalk-line it may be he won’t be 
troubled about that crime of his. If he should get 
funny in that way again, however, we ’ll bring this 
case up in a jiffy, and he ’ll get a long taste of prison 
life.” 

“ Then you will keep the officers from arrestin’ 
him ? ” Seth asked eagerly. 

“ I did n’t say that, Amateur. It may happen 
that he won’t be troubled while he does what is 
right; but there’s been no promises made.” 

When Seth had finally finished the work of black¬ 
ing boots to his satisfaction, he put the box and 
brushes away up-stairs, and approaching ’Lish 
Davis, said in a whisper: 

” You’ve been awful good to me, an’ I promise 
you shan’t be sorry for it.” 

” I believe you, Amateur, I believe you, else I 
would n’t have turned a hand in the business, even 
though you did do me a precious good turn the other 
night. You ’re now in a fair way to get into the De¬ 
partment ; but from this out it all depends upon your¬ 
self. Keep moving as you’ve been doing since I first 
saw you, and it ’ll come out all right in the long run.” 

Then Seth left the building on his way down¬ 
town, and it is safe to say that in all the city of New 
York there was not another as happy as he, for it 
seemed just then as if the goal he had set himself 
was very near at hand. 


CHAPTER VIII. 


JIP COLLINS’S RETREAT. 


O excited was Seth by this sudden and unex- 



pected change in his fortunes that he could not 
bring himself to walk demurely down-town as he 
was in the custom of doing; but ran swiftly more 
than half the distance, repeating to himself over and 
over again: 

“I ’m really goin’ into the Department after 


all! ” 


He was so highly elated when he met Dan that 
the latter instantly understood something of the 
utmost importance had transpired, and asked 
eagerly: 

“ What’s flashed up on you, Seth ? Got a big 
job ? ” 

“ Indeed I have! I ’m goin’ into the Depart¬ 
ment ! ” 

“ Wha—wha—what ? ” 

“ I’m goin’ into the Department. Mr. Davis an’ 
the rest of Ninety-four’s men have got me a job up 
at headquarters where I ’ll have a chance to learn 
all the business, an’ then when I ’m big enough, if 


127 


128 


AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN. 


my record is all right, I ’ll slip in for a fireman as 
easy as winkin’. ” 

“ Look here, Seth, what kind of a stiff are you 
tryin’ to give me ? ” Dan asked sharply. 

“ It ’s a straight tip, old man. Mr. Davis jest 
told me all about it, an’ says I must n’t black boots 
any more except for Ninety-four’s men. He did n’t 
even want me to do that; but I hung on till Mr. 
Dunton backed me up, an’ he finally gave in. Say, 
do you know they ’ve bought a uniform for me jest 
like they wear, only there’s no brass buttons on it.” 

“ Oh, go ’way, Seth. You ’ve slipped your 
trolley. ” 

“ No, it ’s all straight goods, Dan. What kept 
me up there so long this mornin’ was talkin’ ’bout 
it. I’m to go to-night and get the clothes. The 
only thing that worries me is I can’t pay for them 
myself.” 

” Anybody ’d think to hear you talk that was 
hard luck. Look here, Seth, if what you ’ve been 
givin’ me is straight, you ’ve struck a terrible snap, 
an’ a feller who’d kick ’cause somebody gives him 
a suit of clothes, ought ’er go bare-backed.” 

It would look a good deal better, Dan, if I had 
the money to buy the things, rather than let them 
give ’em to me.” 

I ain’t so certain ’bout that. The biggest part 
of it is gettin’ ’em, an’ if they ’re willin’ to put up 


JIT COLLINS'S RETREAT. 


129 


I ’d say let ’em buy anythin’ they wanted. Look 
here, I can’t quite get it through my head that 
things is the way you tell, ’cause it don’t seem likely 
a boy could get in at headquarters.” 

Seth repeated to his partner all that ’Lish Davis 
had said, and when the story was concluded Master 
Roberts commented on it in this fashion: 

“You ’ll be out er sight, Seth; that’s all there is 
to it! ” Then, realizing how his brother news- 
venders might be surprised, he added, “ Come on 
quick, an’ let’s tell as many fellers as we can before 
we go to see Bill Dean ship Sam Barney to Phila- 
delphy! ” 

Seth was by no means averse to making known 
his good fortune, and very shortly afterward the two 
were surrounded by a throng of incredulous news- 
venders and bootblacks, the majority of whom in¬ 
sisted that “ they would n’t be stuffed with any such 
yarns, ’cause of course a feller as small as Seth Bart¬ 
lett could n’t get a job in the Department, even if it 
was only to sweep floors, wash windows, an’ that sort 
of thing. Besides, if he was taken on at head¬ 
quarters, nobody would give him a show of learnin’ 
the drill.” 

Bill Dean called Dan aside, and after first per¬ 
suading him to cross his throat with his fingers in 
order that he should be put on oath, as it were, 

asked regarding the truth of the statements made. 

9 


130 


AN AMATEUR EIRE MAN. 


“It ’s jest as I said, an’ he ’s goin’ to have a 
reg’lar uniform, all but the buttons, to-night.” 

“ Did you hear any of Ninety-four’s men say so ? ” 

“ I was n’t there, of course; but you know Seth 
Bartlett don’t go ’round shootin’ his mouth off the 
way some of the fellers do, an’ you can hang up to 
everythin’ he says; so I’m certain it’s true.” 

“ It must be,” Bill replied in a tone of conviction, 
and then approaching Seth gravely he extended his 
hand, saying as the amateur fireman grasped it: 

“ I ’m mighty glad you ’ve struck it so rich, old 
man, an’ that’s a fact. All of us know you’ve been 
runnin’ to fires pretty reg’lar; but we never b’lieved 
you’d really get into the Department.” 

“ I ain’t there yet,” Seth replied modestly; “ but 
Mr. Davis says it ’ll be my own fault if I don’t get 
in, so you can make up your mind I ’ll keep my 
eyes open mighty wide.” 

One by one Seth’s business acquaintances followed 
Bill’s example in the matter of giving credence to 
the wonderful story, until it was a generally accepted 
fact that no more than the truth had been told. 

There were some doubters, however; but they 
were so few in number that it seemed as if there was 
no longer any question regarding the matter, and 
during the half-hour which followed Seth was kept 
busy answering the questions of the curious and, 
perhaps, envious ones. 


JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT. 131 

The astounding news brought by Seth and Dan 
had caused Sam Barney’s friends and acquaintances 
to forget for the time being that this promising de¬ 
tective was about to depart from New York; but 
Bill Dean, who had taken it upon himself to thus 
aid Jip Collins, soon bethought himself of the busi¬ 
ness in hand, and reminded the others of their duty 
by saying: 

“ Look here, fellers, we must n’t hang ’round here 
much longer, else there won’t be a chance of gettin’ 
Sam away to-day. He’s got to go on the emigrant 
train, an’ the railroad folks will look for him jest as 
I said, ’cause I made a good deal of talk ’bout his 
bein’ a detective. You see I thought they ’d be 
glad to have him go on their cars if we could make 
’em b’lieve half as much as Sam tells ’bout himself.” 

Thus reminded of their duty the young merchants 
set out in a body for the Cortlandt Street Ferry, 
much to the annoyance of those pedestrians against 
whom they jostled and tumbled in their eagerness 
to make way through the crowded thoroughfare. 

The amateur detective was found at the corner of 
West Street, where he had promised to await Bill 
Dean’s coming, and one glance at the throng which 
had gathered to do him honor, as he believed, filled 
his heart with pride. 

“ They ’re beginnin’ to find out that I ’m no 
slouch of a detective after all, hey ? ” he said in a 


i3 2 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


confidential whisper to Bill, and the latter replied in 
a matter-of-fact tone: 

“ I ain’t certain you’d have seen so many of ’em, 
Sam, if it had n’t been that they was all in a bunch 
listenin’ to the news ’bout Seth Bartlett, an’ after 
hearin’ it was in good trim for anythin’.” 

“ What’s the news ’bout Seth ? ” Sam asked with 
mild curiosity. 

“ Why, he’s goin’ into the Department.” 

“ Who ? Seth Bartlett ? ” 

“ Yep. That is, it’s jest ’bout the same thing. 
Ninety-four’s men have found him a job up to head¬ 
quarters where he ’ll have a chance to learn the 
business, ’cause there’s what you might call a school 
for firemen up there.” 

Sam remained silent fully an instant gazing at his 
friend in open-mouthed astonishment, and then he 
said emphatically if not a trifle viciously: 

“ I don’t b’lieve a word of it; that’s one of Seth 
Bartlett’s yarns! ” 

“ He ain’t the kind of feller that goes ’round 
lyin’, an’ it would be a chump trick for him to begin 
it now, ’cause if he don’t flash up in that uniform by 
to-morrow night we ’ll know he’s been stuffin’ us.” 

“ Well, maybe there’s somethin in it,” Sam re¬ 
plied grudgingly, after a brief hesitation; “ but it 
seems to me the Fire Department must be pretty 
hard up when they ’ll take in a feller like Seth,” 


JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT. 133 

I don’t know why he would n’t make as good a 
fireman as you will a detective. He’s been runnin’ 
with Ninety-four for more ’n a year.” 

What does that ’mount to ? He’s never done 
anythin’ same’s I have, to show that he had the 
stuff in him.” 

“ They say he come pretty nigh savin’ ’Lish 
Davis’s life the other night when them storage 
warehouses burned.” 

“ Oh, that’s all in your eye. Dan Roberts told 
the yarn so’s to make hisself solid with Seth.” 

There was no further opportunity for Sam to cast 
discredit upon Seth’s story, because the time was 
near at hand when he should take his departure, and 
those who had contributed to this important event 
were eager to hear in what way he proposed to dis¬ 
tinguish himself. 

I ’ll catch Jip Collins an’ send him up the river 
for five or ten years,” he said in reply to the ques¬ 
tions of his friends, “ an’ then I reckon people will 
find out whether I ’mount to anything as a de¬ 
tective, or not.” 

“ Are you sure he’s over in Philadelphy ?” one 
of the boys asked of Sam. 

“ Course I am.” 

“ How did you find it out ? ” 

“ It would n’t be any use for me to try to tell, 
’cause you could n’t understand it; but that’s where 


134 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


the detective business comes in. I’ve figgered it all 
out, an’ in less than half an hour from the time the 
train strikes the town I ’ll have him ’rested.” 

Some of those who were in the secret smiled; but 
Bill Dean and his friends refrained from any display 
of mirth, lest Sam, grown suspicious of his own wis¬ 
dom, should at the last moment refuse to leave the 
city. 

The would-be detective had desired to purchase 
his own ticket, but to this proposition those who 
had the matter in charge would not consent, and 
Bill Dean, in response to the suggestion made by 
several of the party, proceeded, as he expressed it, 
to “ ship off Sam.” 

That he had spoken the truth when he told of 
having had a conversation with the railroad officials 
regarding Master Barney’s departure, was proven 
when he approached the ticket-office, for the clerk 
recognized him at once, and when the money was 
placed on the ledge in front of him, immediately 
passed out that form of a' ticket which would give to 
Jip’s pursuer a passage to Philadelphia. 

Master Barney’s companions were eager to see 
him on board the cars; but after learning that such 
pleasure must be purchased by paying for a passage 
across to Jersey City and back, the majority of 
them decided the price was altogether too high. 

“ It ’ll cost pretty nigh a dollar for this whole 


JIT COLLINS'S PE TP £ AT. 


35 


gang to go over,” Dan Roberts said after making a 
hurried calculation, “ an’ Sam ain’t worth it. I ’d 
like to see how he swings hisself in the cars; but 
don’t count on puttin’ out my good money for it.” 

There were very many of Dan’s opinion in the 
party, and after some discussion it was decided that 
Bill Dean and Seth Bartlett should accompany the 
detective during this first stage of the journey, and 
these two were instructed to ** remember all Sam 
said, an’ how he looked, so’s to tell it to the rest 
of the crowd when they got back.” 

The would-be detective gravely shook hands with 
his followers, and, after cautioning those who were 
to accompany him to remain at a respectable dis¬ 
tance lest they interfere with his plans, stole on 
board the ferry-boat in a manner well calculated to 
attract the attention and excite the mirth of every 
one who saw him. 

“ He thinks reg’lar detectives go snoopin’ ’round 
in that style,” Bill said in a whisper to Seth, “ an’ 
jest as long as he keeps up such a fool idea he ’ll 
never ’mount to anythin’. I ain’t sayin’ but what 
he might turn out to be quite a feller if he would 
only act decent.” 

Sam appeared to think it necessary that he remain 
by himself during the short voyage, and when the 
boat arrived at the Jersey City slip refused to go on 
shore until after having satisfied himself, in his own 


136 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 

grotesque fashion, that there were no enemies in the 
vicinity. 

He entered the depot much in the same manner, 
and peered into the car fully five minutes before 
venturing to take a seat, after which he said in a 
tone of satisfaction to his companions: 

“ I reckon I ’ve done this thing pretty nigh right 
so far, an’ if I don’t bring Jip Collins back with me 
it ’ll be ’cause some of them Philadelphy people 
spoil my game.” 

“ Are you reckonin’ on stayin’ there till you catch 
him ? ” Bill asked with a wink at Seth, and Master 
Barney replied confidently: 

“ I can put my hands on him within an hour; but 
it may be we ’ll stay overnight so ’s I can bring 
him into town in the mornin’.” 

“ How are you countin’ on gettin’ your ticket to 
come back ? ” Seth asked. 

“ Oh, I ’ve got that figgered out. You see, jest 
as soon as I ’ve nabbed Jip I ’ll go to police head¬ 
quarters an’ tell ’em who he is, an’ of course they ’ll 
see that I get back.” 

Bill had considerable difficulty in keeping his face 
straight during this portion of the conversation, and, 
fearing lest he might inadvertently betray the secret, 
made short work of the leave-taking. 

Sam was in the car with the ticket in his hand, 
and it was hardly probable he would do other than 




» 





SAM GOING TO PHILADELPHIA 


Page 136 



















































JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT '. 


137 


proceed to his destination as had been agreed upon, 
therefore Bill said in an exceedingly friendly tone: 

“ Well, we ’d better be goin’, old man. I ’ll see 
you when you get back.” 

Until this moment Seth had not realized that by 
supplying Master Barney with the means of trans¬ 
portation to Philadelphia, they were virtually exiling 
him from his home, and his heart misgave him as 
such phase of the case suddenly presented itself. 

Look here, Sam, s’posen it turns out that you 
don’t find Jip, how ’ll you get home ? ” he asked, 
and there was in his mind the thought that he would 
divide his scanty store of money with the alleged 
detective; but the latter soon made it plain that 
he was, or believed he was, able to take care of 
himself. 

” Don’t bother your head ’bout me, ’cause even 
if you have got a show of gettin’ into the Fire De¬ 
partment, you ain’t very well posted on the detective 
business. I '11 get back without any of your help, 
an’ I ’ll bring Jip with me.” 

All Seth’s sympathy fled, and without further 
attempt at leave-taking the two walked out of the 
car, glancing back from the door an instant at the 
alleged detective, who was looking as important and 
satisfied as a boy well could look. 

It was decided between Bill and Seth during the 
voyage across the river, that after having made a 


38 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN\ 


report to those who awaited their coming they would 
visit Jip Collins in his retreat at the Erie Basin. 

“ There ’s only a few of us knows where he is, 
an’ of course we ’ve got to keep it a secret for a 
spell, so you, an’ Dan, an’ I must give the other 
fellers the slip if we can.” 

Seth agreed to this after having been assured that 
there would be no difficulty in getting back to the 
engine-house as Mr. Davis had commanded, and 
once they were on the New York shore Bill fulfilled 
his duty to his friends by giving a detailed account 
of all Sam had said and done. 

Some members of the party—and there were a few 
who considered Master Barney one of the most 
promising young detectives in the city—were fully 
satisfied with the manner in which he was reported 
to have borne himself when he set out to bring to a 
successful close this his first important case; but 
those who believed that Sam’s ability existed only 
in his own mind were inclined to ridicule his fan¬ 
tastic behavior, and one of the company was ap¬ 
plauded loudly as he said: 

If Sam cavorts ’round Philadelphy the same 
way he went on board the ferry-boat, they ’ll run 
him in for a lunatic, an’ we ’ll never see him again 
till he turns over a mighty big leaf.” 

Then the would-be detective’s acquaintances sepa¬ 
rated, each intent on his own business or pleasure, 


JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT. 


139 


and there was nothing to prevent the three who 
were bent upon aiding Jip Collins, from proceeding 
on their errand of mercy. 

Now that Sam Barney's departure was an accom¬ 
plished fact, Seth began to reproach himself with 
having aided in sending the boy so far from home 
that it might be many weeks before he could re¬ 
turn, and while walking toward Hoboken Ferry 
gave words to these thoughts. 

Bill Dean, however, was not troubled with any 
pangs of conscience because he had in a certain de¬ 
gree deceived Master Barney. 

It ain't us who sent him over there. He 
spouted up and told how Jip was in Philadelphy, 
an’ we had n’t any call to tell him it was n’t so.” 

**■ But how ’ll he get back ? ” 

** Well, if I was in that town, or any other where 
the railroad folks only charge seventy-five cents to 
fetch me home, you can bet I would n’t hang 
'round the streets very long cryin’ baby; I 'd hustle 
an’ earn money. That ’s the way Sam can get 
back, an’ the more you feel bad 'bout him the big¬ 
ger fool you 're makin’ of yourself. I ain’t stickin’ 
up for Jip Collins, ’cause when he set fire to Bax¬ 
ter’s lumber-yard he knew he was doin’ what would 
send him to jail; but at the same time 'twixt him 
an’ Sam I ain’t certain but I 'd rather give Jip a 
boost.” 


140 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


Then Bill discussed the affair in its different 
phases, laying great stress upon what was apparently 
to him a fact, that by giving Sam Barney an oppor¬ 
tunity of learning that he was not really a detective, 
they were conferring a benefit upon him. 

As Master Dean presented the case, there had 
been no deception practised, because they could 
only have convinced Sam of his error by betraying 
Jip, who had placed himself in the hands of his 
friends, and Master Barney never once asked for in¬ 
formation, but, instead, asserted that he knew where 
the fugitive was concealed. 

In this wise was the time spent during what was 
a reasonably long journey, and Bill had hardly more 
than come to the end of his arguments when they 
arrived at the Erie Basin. 

“ There ’s where Jip is hidin',” Master Dean 
said as he pointed to a dilapidated boat lying at the 
opposite side of the Basin, and at that moment Dan 
and Seth saw what at first sight appeared to be a 
dark-colored ball placed in the combing of the com¬ 
panionway hatch. 

When it suddenly disappeared, and a certain 
portion of it came again into view, they understood 
it was the head of the young gentleman they had 
journeyed thus far to visit, and Dan shouted loudly : 

Hi! It ’s only us! Don’t get scared! ” 

Not until he had assured himself by actual survey 


JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT. 141 

that there were none other than these three friends 
in the vicinity, did the disconsolate-looking firebug 
venture to show himself, and then he came out on 
the deck with a certain humility that was in marked 
contrast with his former swagger. 

Is Sam Barney still on my trail ?” he asked 
piteously, and that he might not be kept in sus¬ 
pense, Bill gave a detailed account of the after¬ 
noon’s proceedings so far as the detective was 
concerned. 

A long-drawn sigh of relief escaped from the 
fugitive’s lips as he said: 

“ I was terrible ’fraid he ’d find me out up here, 
cause whether he ’s a detective or not, Sam has a 
way of snoopin’ ’round an’ gettin’ at things that 
other fellers don’t want him to know. Do you 
reckon I can show myself down-town now ? ” 

Seth was forced to repeat what ’Lish Davis had 
told him, and again a gloom gathered on the fire¬ 
bug’s face, but it was lightened somewhat when the 
amateur fireman added: 

“ There ’s no reason, Jip, why you can’t come 
out an’ earn your livin’ so long’s you walk straight, 
for I don’t b’lieve anybody will try to ’rest you, now 
Sam is away from the city; but remember what Mr. 
Davis said, that if you should do anythin’ more 
crooked, this would all come up against you.” 

“ Look here, Seth, I know I did a mighty mean 


142 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


thing when I set fire to the shed in Baxter’s yard, 
an’ whether you believe it or not, I was terrible 
sorry the minute the shavin’s caught fire; but don’t 
think I ain’t been served out. It ’s awful to stay 
all night on this boat; I hear all kinds of noises 
an’ it seems to me as if the place was reg’larly 
ha’nted. I ’d almost rather go to jail than stay 
here any longer.” 

** But you ’ve got to live somehow, Jip. 

” It won’t be here. I’ve been thinkin’ if I could 
get rid of Sam Barney I ’d go over by the Thirty- 
fourth Street Ferry. Nobody knows me there an’ 
it ought to be a good place for sellin’ papers.” 

Bill Dean thought this a wise plan, providing J ip 
could find lodgings round about that locality, and 
then came the question as to how it would be pos¬ 
sible for him to start in business again, for he con¬ 
fessed that all his money had been spent in the 
purchase of food. 

“ What with helpin’ Sam Barney off, layin’ out 
for a spread last night, an’ gettin’ money together 
to pay the room-rent, this is kind of a tough week 
for me,” Dan said thoughtfully; ” but I ’ll be willin’ 
to chip in a nickel toward helpin’ you along, Jip.” 

Bill and Seth made the same generous propo¬ 
sition, and when the money had been handed to the 
fugitive it was as if he found it difficult to swallow a 
certain lump which had arisen in his throat. 


JIP COLLINS'S RETREAT. 


143 


“You fellers have been terrible good to me after 
I come pretty near killin' you, an’ I want you to 
b’lieve I ’m goin’ to be straight. I ’ll try to show 
that I can be decent.” 

Of course you can, Jip,” Seth said soothingly, 
“ and there ’s no need of your tellin’ us ’bout it. 
Jest plug right ahead an’ do the best you know 
how; then things will come out all right, I ’m cer¬ 
tain. By the time Sam gets back we ’ll take care 
he don’t meddle with the case, an’ I reckon Mr. 
Davis will fix the balance. When you goin’ to leave 
here ? ” 

“ Jest as soon as I can. I made up my mind this 
noon that I ’d let Sam Barney lug me off to jail 
rather than stay any longer.” 

“ Then come with us, an’ there ’ll be time for you 
to get in some of the evenin’ trade if we hurry. Bill 
an’ Dan will go over with you an’ see if there’s any 
fellers ’round the Thirty-fourth Street Ferry that 
might make trouble, an’ most likely I ’ll see you 
again to-morrow.” 

At this point Dan would have told the firebug 
of Seth’s good fortune, but that the latter checked 
him, believing at such a time the information had 
best be withheld, and the three Good Samaritans 
with their penitent friend set out for New York. 


CHAPTER IX. 


THE UNIFORM. 


HEN Jip Collins and those who had be- 



V V friended him arrived at the point nearest 
Ninety-four’s house, on their way to the Thirty- 
fourth Street Ferry, Seth halted to take leave of his 
companions, and knowing what he was about to do, 
Dan urged that he be allowed to accompany him. 

“You ’re goin’ down to get your uniform on, an’ 
I want to see it the very first thing.” 

“ So you shall, Dan ; but I’d rather you would n’t 
come with me now, ’cause there was nothin’ said 
about my bringin’ anybody. Keep on with Bill an’ 
Jip, an’ I ’ll go over to our room jest as soon as I 
get through at the engine-house.” 

This did not please Master Roberts; but Bill 
Dean urged that Seth was in the right, and was 
very emphatic in the assertion that it would “ be 
’way off color to shove in ” at such a time. 

Therefore Dan ceased to insist, although it was 
with a very ill grace that he accepted the situation. 

As a matter of course, once such a conversation 
was started, it became necessary to explain to Jip 


THE UNIFORM . 145 

what important business called Seth away, and he 
said with a sigh: 

I ’m glad you ’re playin’ in such luck, Seth, for 
you ’re mighty square. I s’posed after what I ’d 
done nobody would let me come ’round their houses, 
an’ as for my gettin’ into any Department, why 
there never ’ll be a show of such a thing as that.” 

Now don’t you get down in the dumps, Jip, 
’cause you ’ll soon pull up where you was before. 
All that’s needed is to go on straight from this out, 
an’ show people you ’re sorry for meddlin’ in such 
crooked business.” 

After this attempt at consolation Seth parted with 
his companions, and ten minutes later was standing 
before ’Lish Davis on the lower floor of Ninety- 
four’s house. 

“ Well, what have you done with your firebug ?” 
the driver asked, and such of the men as were idle 
gathered around to hear the conversation. 

“We ’ve shipped Sam Barney, an’ Jip ’s gone 
down Thirty-fourth Street way sellin’ papers.” 

“ Do you allow he ’ll run straight after this ? ” 

“ I ’m almost certain of it, Mr. Davis. He feels 
terrible bad, an’ if Sam gives him the chance he ’ll 
show that he can be a decent feller.” 

“ I hope so, because I hate to see a boy go wrong. 
Do you know, Amateur, that what ’s done while 
you ’re young hangs on after you get to be a man. 


146 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Then, when you ’re getting along swimmingly, up 
comes somebody and tells of the mean trick you 
played when you was a kid. It always counts against 
a man. Now, I ain’t saying that your firebug won’t 
pull out of this, but he’s taking the chances that 
it ’ll be thrown up in his face a hundred times ’twixt 
now and the next ten years, however straight he 
walks. If a boy would only bear that in mind I 
allow he’d be a heap more careful about what he 
did. Howsomever, you ain’t here for a lecture 
of that kind, and what ’s more you don’t need 
one. I allow you ’re counting on that suit of 
clothes ? ” 

“ I s’posed that was what you wanted me to come 
for, sir.” 

“ Well, it was, Amateur, it was; and if you ’ll go 
up-stairs and look on my bed you ’ll find the togs 
laid out there. Put ’em on, and come down to show 
us how you look.” 

“ Are they new clothes, sir ? ” 

“ Of course they are. You don’t allow that when 
this ’ere company takes it into their heads to fit out 
a kid they ’re going to do it on second-hand rigging, 
do you ? ” 

I only asked the question ’cause I thought per¬ 
haps if they was all new I’d better wash my face 
an’ hands first.” 

“ That’s right, Amateur; fix yourself out the best 


THE UNIFORM. 147 

you know how. We want to see what kind of a 
looking kid we ’ve taken on our hands.” 

Instead of immediately acting upon his own sug¬ 
gestion Seth hesitated, and after a moment the 
driver asked : 

“ What are you hanging in the wind now for ? 
Got anything on your mind ? ” 

“ I ’d like to know, sir, if I ’m to be allowed to 
pay for these clothes when I get so I can earn 
money enough ? ” 

Bless your heart, Amateur, when you ’re regu¬ 
larly in the Department you shall come up and 
square the bills with Ninety-four if it so be you ’re 
inclined; if not, why, what we do comes free as air, 
and we ’re glad to give you a boost. All the pay¬ 
ment we want is that you ’ll do us credit. I ’d like 
to have the boys up at headquarters, when they 
look at you, say to themselves, ‘ That kid belongs 
to Ninety-four,’ and in the saying of it I’d have ’em 
think you was way up—something out of the ordi¬ 
nary run of kids, don’t you understand, Amateur ? ” 
“ If I can do anything to make you feel proud of 
me, Mr. Davis, I ’ll be mighty glad; but I promise 
you shan’t be ashamed of having sent me there.” 

“ I ain’t counting on the possibility of that, Ama¬ 
teur, ’cause I believe I know you better. Now, get 
along and put yourself into condition, ’cause there’s 
no knowing how soon we may get a call,” 


148 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Before looking at the new clothing Seth washed 
his face and hands with scrupulous care, used the 
comb and brush again and again until positive each 
single hair was in its proper place, and then went to 
the floor above. 

He expected to see garments which somewhat re¬ 
sembled those worn by the firemen; but was unpre¬ 
pared for that which met his gaze. 

’Lish Davis, if indeed it was he who ordered the 
uniform, had seen to it that each article was a fac¬ 
simile, both as to texture and style, of what he him¬ 
self wore, the one difference being that the buttons 
were plain black instead of gilt with raised letters. 

During several moments Seth stood as if spell¬ 
bound, gazing at this, to him, first real evidence 
that he was in a certain degree, however remote, 
connected with the Department, and perhaps never 
again will he feel the same honest pride which was 
his at that moment, for he knew without being told 
that he had gotten this far toward the goal he had set 
himself by straightforward dealing and careful atten¬ 
tion to all the duties which might be expected of him. 

He did not say in so many words that he had 
earned them; but there was in his mind a sense of 
satisfaction in the knowledge that they would not 
have been presented unless he had shown himself to 
be in some degree deserving. 

After a long survey of the garments, he put them 


THE UNIFORM. 


I49 


on, and never was transformation more complete 
than when he was thus changed from a ragged boy 
of the street, to what, in the mirror at least, looked 
almost like a young gentleman. 

They ’re mighty fine,” he said to himself as he 
examined first one coat-sleeve and then the other. 
“ They ’re mighty fine, an’ it ’ll be a terrible big 
tumble for me if I can’t satisfy ’em up to head¬ 
quarters.” 

Then came the fear that now, having reached the 
threshold of the Department, as it were, he might 
fail in his purpose, and Seth literally trembled with 
apprehension until ’Lish Davis’s voice was heard from 
below ordering him to “ hurry up.” 

“ I won’t go back on Ninety-four’s men,” the boy 
said to himself resolutely. It’s jest as the driver 
says, all depends on me, an’ knowin’ what’s to be 
gained I ’m a chump if I can’t pull through.” 

Then, acting on an impulse, he slid down one of 
the poles, instead of going by the way of the stairs, 
and suddenly stood before the entire company, who 
were awaiting his appearance. 

** Well done, Amateur, well done,” ’Lish Davis 
cried in a tone of approbation. “ I declare I 
would n’t have known who it was if I ’d met you 
sudden-like on the street. Why, you ’re a corker, 
Amateur, a regular corker! ” 

“ I do look pretty nice, an’ that’s a fact,” Seth 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


150 

replied complacently, whereat the men laughed 
heartily. 

Then each member of the company in turn came 
forward and shook him by the hand, congratulating 
him upon his first appearance as a member of the 
Department, at the same time that they wished him 
success in the effort to gain a permanent foothold 
among them. 

“ You ’re a credit to us, Amateur, and that much 
I must say. The money we spent on the toggery 
ain’t been thrown away even if you do get fired out 
of headquarters after a spell. From this time forth 
you ’re much the same as a probationary fireman, 
and the bootblack part of it has disappeared, except 
when you ’re ’round here where there ’s no one to 
know what you ’re doing. Though, mark you, lad, 
I ’m not saying anything against a boy’s shining 
boots for a living. If you had n’t done it well, and 
taken some pride in your calling, Seth Bartlett 
would n’t be standing in that ’ere suit of blue this 
minute. Now that we’ve launched you, as it were, 
Amateur, I, and I’m speaking for my mates as well, 
want you to understand .that it’s a hard row ahead. 
You ’ve got to work early and late; put up with a 
good many disagreeable things and look pleasant all 
the while; do considerable more ’n your duty, and 
be always on the jump. Keep up as we ’ve known 
you, Amateur, my boy, and you ’ll win.” 


THE UNIFORM . 


151 

When this speech—for it could be called by no 
other name—was concluded, the driver’s comrades 
applauded loudly, and then ’Lish stepped back a 
few paces as if expecting Seth to respond. 

The “ probationary ” fireman understood the 
movement; but the words in his mind would not 
come; instead of making what he considered a 
worthy reply, he said, and to him it sounded lame 
and poor: 

I 'll do my best so’s you won’t be ashamed of 
me.” 

” That ’s all we ’re asking for, Amateur, and to¬ 
morrow noon at twelve o’clock I ’ve got leave of 
absence to take you up to headquarters. You ’re 
your own boss till then, and you ’d better make the 
most of the holiday, ’cause it ’ll be a long spell be¬ 
fore you get another.” 

” There’s only one thing I’d like to say, sir, an’ 
that I s’pose I must n’t think of.” 

” Do you mean you ’re hankering to run to a fire 
with them good clothes on ? ” 

” I ’d like to shift ’em an’ go, sir, for-” 

At that instant the click caused by the opening of 
.the electric circuit in the alarm was heard, followed 
by the striking of the joker. 

The weight fell—the lever flew up—the horses 
were released, and before Seth could have spoken, 
even if he had had anything to say, the animals were 


152 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


under the swinging harness, while every man stood 
at his station. 

“Get on, Amateur; get on alongside the engineer. 
This may be the last time you ’ll run with Ninety- 
four for quite a spell, and I ’m minded to give you 
the advantage of it,” the captain cried as ’Lish 
Davis sprang to his seat, snapped into place the 
catch on his belt, and released the harness. 

Almost before the last word was spoken Seth had 
leaped to the side of the engineer, and never a boy 
in New York City was more proud than he, when 
the ponderous engine, drawn by the plunging horses, 
left the building with a rattle and roar which could 
have been heard blocks away. 

In a uniform hardly to be distinguished from the 
members of the company the Amateur was riding 
to his first fire in what seemed to him like an official 
capacity. 

One portion of his dream was being realized, and 
he said to himself as he clung to the rail, swung to 
and fro by the swaying of the ponderous machine, 
that when the time came for him to be regularly 
enrolled in the Department he would use every 
effort toward being assigned to Ninety-four. 

“You are our mascot, Amateur,” Jerry Walters, 
who stood next to Seth, shouted at the full 
strength of his lungs in order that the words might 
be heard above the clanging of the gong and rattle 


THE FIRE-ENGINE GOING OUT. Page 152.. 








r 













































THE UNIFORM. 153 

of wheels, “ and if you ’re to bring us good luck we 
shall get first water to-night.” 

Seth’s heart sank. For the moment he believed 
Walters was in earnest, and knew full well, having 
the location of each signal station in mind, that 
there were two engines whose houses were nearer 
the call than was Ninety-four’s. 

To get first water under such circumstances 
seemed impossible, and timidly Seth reminded 
Walters of the fact. 

I know it, Amateur, and am not counting that 
we ’ll win; but if we should, and if there be such 
things as mascots, then I ’m free to admit you ’ll 
be a lucky one for us.” 

Perhaps ’Lish Davis had in his mind some idea 
similar to that expressed by Walters, for although 
Seth had seen him urge his horses to their utmost 
speed time and again, never before had he known 
him to press them so hard. 

The mass of steel and iron was drawn over the 
pavement as if it had been but a feather’s weight, 
and ’Lish Davis guided the horses, without checking 
their speed in the slightest, around a sharp corner 
so suddenly that Seth was nearly overthrown, while 
the clanging of gongs in the distance told of the 
approach of a second engine. 

” It ’s Fifty-three!” Jerry Walters shouted in 
the boy’s ear, “ It’s Fifty-three, and we ’ve got 


154 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


thirty seconds the start of her. How about getting 
first water now, Amateur ? ” 

Seth pointed straight ahead where could be seen 
a cloud of sparks arising from the stack of a third 
engine which was coming directly toward them. 

“ Yes, Amateur, it ’s her or Ninety-four; Fifty- 
three is distanced, and I ’ll hold that you ’re bring- 
ing good luck to us if we do no more than beat one 
of ’em out.” 

Every man of that company, however eager he 
had previously been to be first at the scene of con¬ 
flict, seemed now to outdo himself in activity. 

A cloud of black smoke issuing from the second 
floor of a dwelling located the fire, and Ninety-four’s 
tender was making a run for the nearest hydrant, 
passing the engine just as ’Lish Davis slackened 
speed. 

Joe Black had gained the desired spot in advance 
of his rival, and as Ninety-four’s tender dashed by, 
fifteen or twenty feet of the hose had been run off 
of the reel. 

Then it was that Jerry Walters and ’Lish Davis 
gave vent to a loud cry of triumph, for Joe Black 
had made the connection. 

Ninety-four’s tender was stretching in just as the 
other company reached the hydrant, beaten by no 
more than ten seconds. 

“We ’v.e got first water, Amateur, we ’ve got first 


THE UNIFORM. 


155 


water! ” Jerry Walters shouted as if having taken 
leave of his senses. “ It ain’t that we ’ve never 
done such a thing; but this time it did n’t belong to 
us, and we took it on your first run! If that ain’t 
being a mascot for Ninety-four I don’t know what 
you will call it.” 

Then there was no time for congratulations or 
further discussion regarding the matter, for the men 
had work to do which could not be delayed, and 
Seth was about to follow Joe Black when ’Lish 
Davis shouted: 

“ Come back here, Amateur! Comeback! This 
is no time for you to be gettin’ points when you ’re 
wearing the first decent suit of clothes you ever 
owned. Get alongside and behave yourself. I 
did n’t allow you was to do any work when the cap¬ 
tain let you in on this trick.” 

Under other circumstances Seth would have been 
grievously disappointed at being thus commanded 
to remain where he could see little or nothing of 
what was being done; but now he was so elated at 
the victory won that all else seemed but slight by 
comparison. 

” I s’pose you ’d have gone in there if you was 
wearing the finest coat ever made, eh ? ” the driver 
asked gravely, and Seth replied with another 
question: 

” Would n’t you, sir ? ” 


156 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ What I ’d do don’t cut any Agger, Amateur. 
It ’s my business to go in there, but not yours yet 
a while. When the time comes that you ’re bound 
to step up with the foremost, I ’m expecting to see 
you there, and would n’t say a word that might hold 
you back. Now you ’re playing the gentleman, 
and you ’ll stay with me; besides, it ain’t going to 
turn out anything after all. A curtain or some 
such flummery is blazing. It can’t be much more.” 

In this surmise ’Lish Davis was correct. 

Within ten minutes after Ninety-four was ready 
for work word came to “ shut off,” and the men 
set about disconnecting the hose. 

So slight had been the fire that only two members 
of the company were detailed to do the overhauling 
—that, is to thoroughly go through the building from 
top to bottom to make certain no spark had been 
left which might be fanned into a flame—and the 
remainder of the men were ordered back to the 
house. 

” It’s what we may call a howling success, this 
first run of yours, Amateur,” ’Lish Davis said as he 
drove leisurely homeward. “ We ’ve beat ’em all 
out, had little work to do, and it was n’t much more 
than good practice, with a precious fine record at 
the bottom of it. But don’t you get puffed up 
thinking everything is going your way just ’cause 
you ’ve started in easy and slick.” 


THE UNIFORM. 


157 


“ There ’s no reason why I should be puffed up, 
Mr. Davis, except that I ’ve had a chance to do 
what I ’ve been longin’ for—and that is to go out 
with Ninety-four as if I belonged to her.” 

“ As if you belonged to her! That’s what we 
allow you do, Amateur. From this out, unless it so 
be you turn about wonderfully and go crooked, 
you ’re one of us—an honorary member, so to speak. ” 
Put down on the roll as the official mascot,” 
Jerry Walters cried, whereat the remainder of the 
company laughed heartily, and in this jovial mood 
was Ninety-four returned to her quarters; but Seth 
was not allowed to take part in the washing-up lest 
he should soil his fine feathers. 

“I’m counting on your striking in at headquarters 
lookin’ just as fine as silk, which you could n’t do if 
we let you hang ’round here helping with the dirty 
work,” ’Lish Davis said when Seth would have 
claimed it as his right to be allowed to assist in the 
labor. “ You ’re to toddle straight home now, for 
you ’ve hung ’round this house long enough; stay 
there till morning, come over here for a bit about 
your usual time, and then take a spell at swelling 
down-town until nigh on to twelve o’clock, when 
I ’ll be ready to go with you. Well, why don’t you 
start ? ” 

“ I wanted to thank you for lettin’ me run with 
Ninety-four the first night I had my uniform on.” 


158 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


** You need n’t do anything of the kind. The 
captain happened to be soft just as the alarm struck, 
else you would n’t have got away with us. Now 
clear out, and take care you don’t get into mis¬ 
chief.” 

As Seth went toward his lodgings he wondered 
whether the people whom he met in the street were 
not surprised at seeing him thus clad like a fireman, 
and so intent was he on walking erect with his 
shoulders thrown well back, that he might the better 
look the part he hoped one day to play, that he 
failed to observe Dan Roberts until the latter, sud¬ 
denly recognizing his partner, shouted shrilly: 

“ Hi! Seth! Do you mean that’s really you ? ” 

“ Don’t make such a row on the street, Dan, 
’cause folks will wonder what’s the matter. But 
say, I do look pretty fine, eh ? ” 

“ Fine ? Why, that ’s no name for itf old man. 
You ’re out of sight! Where did you get ’em ? ” 

“ This is the uniform I was tellin’ you ’bout. Mr. 
Davis gave it to me when I was over to the engine- 
house, an’ do you know I had n’t more ’n got into it 
when there was an alarm, an’ I rode to the fire on 
Ninety-four jest as if I belonged to her.” 

“ No!” 

“ I did for a fact.” 

” Well, if they let you do that there ain’t much 
question ’bout your gettin’ into the Department,” 


THE UNIFORM . 


159 


Mr. Davis says it all depends on me now, an’ 
you can bet I ’ll work mighty hard, Dan Roberts.” 

If you don’t you ’re a bloomin’ idjut! Why, I 
would n’t ever knowed you if I ’d been goin’ fast! 
I was kind-er loafin’ along wonderin’ when you’d 
be home, an’ thinkin’ of Jip, so had time to look 
’round. First off I could n’t make up my mind to 
holler, you looked so bloomin’ swell. Now, I don’t 
see why I should n’t go in for somethin’ same’s you 
did, an’ flash up in sich style; but no, I ’ll stick to 
sellin’ papers, that ’ll be the way with me, an’ think 
I ’m playin’ in great luck if I get to own a stand on 
some corner.” 

“You talk as if I was already in the Department, 
instead of havin’ to work my way up to it.” 

“ I only wish I was as near there. By the time 
you ’re captain of a company I ’ll jest about get so 
I can pay my own way, with never two cents 
ahead.” 

“ Now, don’t begin to jump on yourself ’cause it 
seems as if I was gettin’ along pretty fast; but wait 
an’ see how I pan out, an’ as for doin’ nothin’ but 
sellin’ papers, why, that’s ’cordin’ to the way you 
want it. There ain’t any need of stickin’ to sich 
business unless you hanker for it.” 

“ Yes there is, except I’m willin’ to starve,” Dan 
replied mournfully, and to raise him from the depths 
of despondency into which he had been plunged by 


i6o 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


a sight of the uniform, Seth began to ask him ques¬ 
tions concerning Jip. 

“ We left him down at the ferry. Bill Dean 
struck a feller there who promised to give Jip a lift 
now an’ then. I don’t reckon he ’ll have any 
trouble, ’cause them as are sellin’ papers down 
that way don’t seem to have much sand to ’em. 
He’s goin’ to sleep with Bill’s friend, an’ take it all 
in all I think he ’s gettin’ along mighty well, con¬ 
siderin’ it ain’t a week since he burned us out. Say, 
goin’ into the house now, or do you count on swell- 
in’ ’round a spell first ? ” 

“ We ’ll go home, Dan, an’ in the mornin’, after 
I ’ve shined for Ninety-four’s men, I ’ll meet you 
down-town.” 

“ What ? You goin’ to do any more shinin’ ? ” 

I am for them in that house, an’ I ’ll keep it up 
till I get to be reg’larly in the Department. They’ve 
done so much for me, Dan, that if I should spend 
half my time as long as I live blackin’ their boots, 
I would n’t square things.” 

“If I counted on bein’ a fireman I’d be one; I 
would n’t black boots for anybody.” 

“ Neither will I when I ’m really in the Depart¬ 
ment ; but I ’m a long ways from there yet a while. 
Come home, an’ to-night I ’ll stand a spread so’s 
to celebrate wearin’ the new uniform.” 


CHAPTER X. 


AT HEADQUARTERS. 



HEN he first saw Seth in his new uniform a 


▼ V certain feeling of envy came into Dan 
Roberts’s heart; but he was not a fellow who could 
give himself up to this kind of thoughts very long, 
and within a few moments all that had passed away, 
leaving in its stead rejoicings that his partner had 
taken such rapid strides toward the desired end. 

Before they had gained the seclusion of their own 
room Dan was his old self once more, and from that 
moment it is safe to say he was never again envious 
of Seth’s good fortune, but sufficiently wise to profit 
by his partner’s example. 

When they entered the house, Mrs. Hanson, who 
must have been informed by ’Lish Davis of the ex¬ 
pected change in Seth’s condition, came to the door 
to see the boy in his uniform, and when she ceased 
her words of praise his cheeks were glowing red. 

“ You ’ll cut a terrible swath down-town to¬ 
morrow morning,” Dan said sagely when they were 
alone. “ Here’s a woman that never saw either of 
us till yesterday, an’ she goes pretty nigh crazy over 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


162 

the way you look. I reckon Sam Barney would 
have a reg’lar fit if he should run up against you 
now.” 

To Seth’s mind there was nothing wrong in ad¬ 
miring himself, or listening to words of praise from 
others, and he enjoyed to the utmost these specula¬ 
tions of his partner until Master Roberts, wearied 
of gazing at the amateur fireman, hinted broadly 
that if there was to be a spread set out in honor of 
the uniform, now was the time to “ start her goin’.” 

“ How much did that lay-out cost you last 
night ? ” 

“ Twenty-three cents.” 

“ That’s pretty stiff to pay for one supper; but 
it ain’t every day I get a uniform, an’ I guess I can 
stand it this once. We shan’t spread ourselves in 
the same way ag’in, though,” Seth said thoughtfully, 
speaking half to himself, and then taking some coins 
from his pocket, he added, “You go out and buy 
the stuff. I ’ll wait here.” 

“ Why don’t you come with me ? ” 

“ I ’m ’fraid if Ninety-four’s men should see me 
they’d think I was runnin’ ’round swellin’.” 

“ Well, s’posen they should ? Have n’t you got 
the right ? Would n’t most any feller who’s got as 
near into the Department as you have ? ” 

Mr. Davis said I was to go down-town to¬ 
morrow mornin’, an’ perhaps that’s all he thought 


A T HE A DQUAR TEES. 163 

I ought ’er do, so I ’ll hang on here instead of goin’ 
out ag’in.” 

Dan was not averse to making the purchases, and 
so deeply occupied was Seth with pleasant thoughts 
that it seemed to him Master Roberts had no more 
than left the room before he returned laden with 
packages. 

As on the previous night he was accompanied by 
Bill Dean, who exclaimed in a tone of satisfaction 
as he entered the room: 

It seems like as if I ’m allers ’round when you 
fellers are puttin’ up swell lay-outs, don’t it ? ” 
Then getting a full view of Seth for the first time 
he cried in an accent of unquestionable admiration, 
“ Well, I ’ll be jiggered! Dan said you was lookin’ 
mighty fine; but I never thought you could flash 
up like this! Why, you ’re a reg’lar fireman 
already.” 

“ You would n’t think that if you could hear what 
Ninety-four’s men say, an’, besides, there’s no brass 
buttons on this uniform, you know.” 

“ I ain’t certain but it looks better without ’em. 
Anyhow, you ’re way up in G.” 

“ He ought ’er know it by this time,” Dan added 
with a laugh. “ Everybody has been tellin’ him 
so, an’ he come mighty near paralyzin’ Miss Han¬ 
son. She jest threw up both hands when we opened 
the door.” 


6 4 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ Well, I don’t wonder; but say, I didn’t come 
round to sponge off you fellers, ’cause I never 
thought of your havin’ two such lay-outs one 
right after the other. I did n’t know but you ’d 
like to hear how we ’d left Jip, an’ then agin I 
wanted to talk ’bout bunkin’ in here with you 
fellers.” 

“ This is Seth’s spread; but you ’ll hold on an’ 
get your share of it now you ’re here,” and Dan be¬ 
gan to arrange the food on the table in the most 
tempting manner possible. 

“ Of course you ’ll stop,” Seth added, “ an’ even 
if you ’d known we was goin’ to kind of celebrate, 
what would be the harm in cornin’ ’round an’ get- 
tin’ some ? ” 

“ Well, I don’t want you to think I ’m playin’ it 
on you, that’s all; but it struck me a little while 
ago that if we could make a trade with the woman 
what runs this house, it would come easier on all 
hands. Now, that bed is plenty big enough for 
three, an’ it ain’t likely you ’ll be here much of the 
time, except to sleep, so why would n’t it be a good 
idea to see how much extra she ’ll charge to let me 
in with you fellers ? ” 

Seth knew of no good reason why Bill should not 
be allowed to share their palatial quarters, providing 
Mrs. Hanson did not object. 

He knew Master Dean to be an industrious, well- 


AT HEADQUARTERS. 


165 


intentioned boy, whose company, now that he was 
to be absent from home so much, might be desirable 
to Dan, and at once signified his willingness that 
the landlady should be consulted. 

“ I reckon Dan will be lonesome here when I ’m 
gone so much, an’ perhaps it would be a good plan. 
S’pose you two fellers go down an’ see what she’s 
got to say.” 

“ Why don’t you tackle her?” Master Roberts 
suggested. “ She ’ll be so busy lookin’ at your 
uniform that perhaps you could make a better 
trade.” 

Seth hesitated only an instant, and then went 
down-stairs. 

When he returned his companions knew from the 
expression on his face, before he made a report, that 
the mission had been successful. 

“ She says if we keep quiet an’ don’t have a 
crowd hangin’ round, or too many visitors, that we 
need n’t pay any more for three than we do for 
two. I did n’t think that would be jest the square 
thing, an’ besides, we could n’t divide half a dollar 
up in three parts, so I told her we’d call it sixty 
cents, an’ that will make the lodgin’ come mighty 
cheap for all hands of us.” 

“When are you willin’ I should come?” Bill 
Dean asked eagerly. 

“ Whenever you want to.” 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


166 

“ Then I ’ll start right in to-night an’ pay the 
same as you fellers do, for you’ve only got one day 
ahead of me.” 

And thus the matter was settled to the manifest 
delight of the new lodger. 

The feast was an unusually satisfactory one on 
this particular evening. 

Seth was as happy as a boy well could be because 
of the good fortune which had come to him through 
Ninety-four’s men; Bill believed himself unusually 
lucky in having secured such desirable lodgings at 
an exceedingly low price; and Master Roberts had 
suddenly conceived an idea which seemed to him a 
remarkably happy one. 

Not until his hunger had been appeased did Dan 
give words to his new train of thoughts, and then he 
announced with the air of one who has made a great 
discovery: 

” If Seth had n’t laid himself right out to get into 
the Department, an’ stuck to it whether the fellers 
were makin’ fun of him or not, he would n’t be 
wearin’ that uniform now, would he ? Course not. 
If I keep on sellin’ papers an’ don’t try to do any¬ 
thing else, I ’ll never get some other kind of a job, 
will I ? Course not. Now, I’ve made up my mind 
to own a store on Third Avenoo where I ’ll sell 
papers, an’ books, an’ sich truck, an’ keep a lot of 
kids to do the outside work.” 


A T HEADQ UAR TERS. 167 

“ An’ you can do it, too, Dan, if you stick right 
at it,” Seth replied confidently. 

” Well, she goes from this out! I shan’t spend 
any more money buyin’ swell grub same’s this is, an’ 
if I don’t get down-town every mornin’ by daylight 
it ’ll be ’cause I ’m broke up so bad I can’t 
move.” 

Then the feasters discussed this new idea of Dan’s, 
approaching it from every point of view, until the 
Third Avenue store was to Master Roberts an ac¬ 
complished fact; nothing stood between it and 
him save hard work and a strict adherence to his 
purpose. 

After this subject was exhausted a certain amount 
of their attention was given to Jip Collins’s affairs. 
They speculated briefly as to what Sam Barney 
might be doing at that particular moment, or re¬ 
garding matters connected with his departure, and 
it was not yet nine o’clock when all three were lying 
comfortably in bed, sleeping peacefully. 

Dan awakened shortly after daybreak, and, strong 
in his purpose of one day owning a Third Avenue 
store, lost no time in making ready for business. 

He and Bill Dean started down-town before sun¬ 
rise, and Seth made his way to Ninety-four’s house, 
where he busied himself in doing such work as came 
to his hand. 

Before seven o’clock he had blackened the boots 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


168 

of all the men, swept the floors, and groomed one of 
the horses. 

’Lish Davis came down just as this last task was 
performed, and observing what had been done said 
gravely: 

“ Look here, Amateur, we don’t count on your 
doing up all the odd jobs ’round this place, else the 
rest of us will rust out for lack of exercise.” 

” I got ’round pretty early, sir, an’ ’d rather be at 
work than layin’ still.” 

“ After this noon you won’t complain of having 
too much spare time on your hands. Been to break¬ 
fast ? ” 

” Yes, sir.” 

** Then clear out an’ go down-town, ’cause this is 
likely to be your last day off for quite a spell. I ’ll 
look after the other horses.” 

Seth would have been better pleased to remain in 
the engine-house two or three hours longer, but 
’Lish Davis’s injunctions, although given as a per¬ 
mission rather than a command, were not to be dis¬ 
obeyed, and without protesting he left the building. 

It is hardly necessary to attempt to describe the 
reception accorded the amateur fireman, when he 
arrived at Printing House Square. 

Every bootblack or newsboy in that section of 
the city had heard from Bill or Dan the fullest pos¬ 
sible particulars regarding the new uniform, and all 


AT HEADQUARTERS. 


169 


were expecting to see a great change in Seth’s ap¬ 
pearance, but not prepared for such a decided trans¬ 
formation. 

During at least two hours business was practically 
suspended, and Seth was literally forced to remain 
on exhibition because of the throng which sur¬ 
rounded him. 

Many times did the policemen in the vicinity dis¬ 
perse the gathering; but the admiring ones reassem¬ 
bled immediately afterward, regardless of the threats 
of the officers, and thus the Society for the Admira¬ 
tion of Seth Bartlett was virtually in continuous 
session. 

Those who had laughed the loudest because of his 
ambition were now the most extravagant in their 
praises, and there was not a boy on Printing House 
Square who did not realize as never before how 
much might be accomplished by persistent effort. 
Until eleven o’clock Seth “ visited ” with his friends 
and acquaintances, and then made his way up to 
keep the appointment with ’Lish Davis. 

The driver, clad in his best uniform, was awaiting 
the boy’s arrival, and cried good-naturedly when 
the latter appeared: 

“ Well, Amateur, you ’ve spread yourself, eh ? 
Been swelling all the morning till your head is so big 
that you need to borrow a new cap ? ” 

“ There ’s no danger of that yet a while, Mr. 


70 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


Davis. I ’ll wait till I see how I get along at head¬ 
quarters before puffin’ myself out very much.” 

” That’s a good idea, Amateur, though at the 
same time I believe you ’ll pull through in great 
shape, providing you hang on as you’ve done since 
I knew you. Now, if it so be you ’ve tended to all 
your business and are ready to duf into the work, 
we ’ll mosey along toward Sixty-seventh Street.” 

” The sooner I get to work the quicker we ’ll 
know whether the folks up there are goin’ to let me 
stay,” Seth replied, and with words expressive of 
kindly cheer and friendly wishes ringing in his ears, 
the Amateur set out on this his first real step toward 
a position in the Department. 

” I don’t want them as you ’ll meet at head¬ 
quarters to think you ’re a dummy, Amateur, and 
it ’s in my mind to give you a little outline, so to 
speak, of this ’ere school, after which there ’ll be no 
need of your showing ignorance by asking ques¬ 
tions. In the first place it ain’t counted on that 
this ’ere branch of the service is to educate anybody 
and everybody that may come along. It’s for such 
men as are admitted to the Department on trial, 
‘ probationary firemen ’ chiefly; but the old hands 
have had a deal of good out of it. 

** This plan was started long about ’83 for no other 
reason than to show the men who were then in the 
service how to use the scaling ladder which had just 


AT HEADQUARTERS . 


171 


been introduced, and the idea seemed to work so 
well that it gradually grew, kind of swelled out, so 
to speak, till it became a reg’lar school. First off, 
before the new headquarters was built, the city 
hired an old sugar warehouse on One Hundred and 
Fifty-eighth Street and North River, where the men 
were shown how to use scaling ladders and a life net, 
and I ’ve been there when one class counted up 
sixty scholars, all of us old hands at the business. 
Remember this, Amateur, you ’ll never be too old 
to go to school, leastways that ’s what I ’ve found. 

“ After the new headquarters building was opened 
in ’87 the sugar warehouse was given up, and we 
firemen had what you might almost call a college. 
There ’s a yard at the back of the building nigh 
on to a hundred feet square, which is put up in such 
shape that water can be used the same as you would 
at a fire, and here drills go on like this, for instance: 
An alarm is sent out for a certain company when 
they least expect it, and the men find themselves 
called into headquarters to show what they can do. 
All that you ’re going to see, lad, and talking about 
getting points, why, you can learn more there in one 
exhibition drill than you could at forty fires, ’cause 
you ’re understanding just how the thing is going 
to be done. 

“ You ’ll find when one of these unexpected drills 
comes off that the engine is run into the yard, hose 


4 


172 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


coupled on to the hydrant, dragged up to the top 
of the building, water started and shut off, ladders 
used, and in fact the whole business gone through 
the same as if a hundred lives were in danger/' 

“ Do the men really work as hard there as they 
do at a fire ? ” Seth asked. 

“Do they, Amateur? Well, now, you can be 
mighty certain they do, ’cause it ’s owing to what 
they show at such times that gives them their rating. 
Now, for instance, Ninety-four’s company is in the 
first grade; Eighty-six, that we bucked up against 
on that storage warehouse, is in the second grade; 
and there ain’t a great many third grade nowadays, 
’cause the men are drilled too well. And here’s a 
point I want you to understand, Amateur: In case 
some man comes along and tries to tell you that the 
Department in this city or that is better than what 
we’ve got here, stick straight up for the fact that 
the New York Fire Department heads the world, and 
you won’t be a grain away from the truth. Taking 
it all in all I ’m free to say, open and above board, 
that you can’t find a Department anywhere that can 
beat this, and I’m reckoning pretty strong that you 
would n’t find one to equal us, taking all things into 
consideration. 

Now, we ’ll suppose you was old enough, and 
stout enough, and plucky enough, and knew enough 
to pass a civil-service and a physical examination for 


AT HEADQUARTERS. 


173 


admission to the Department. You would n’t be 
put into regular service, but sent up to headquarters, 
where we ’re going now, and drilled in the yard, 
raising ladders, tossing ’em ’round, setting ’em up, 
and keeping at that kind of work till you could 
handle one the same ’s you might a knife or fork. 
Now, considering the fact that the lightest of ’em 
weighs twenty and the heaviest sixty-five pounds, 
with a length of from fourteen to twenty feet, you 
can see that you ’ve got to be pretty nimble before 
getting through the first lesson, eh ? 

“ Then we ’ll allow you’ve satisfied them as are 
giving the lesson. You ’ll be set at climbing up to 
the first window to start with; after you can do 
that, to the second, and so on till you’ve got to the 
top of the building by aid of the scaling ladders. It 
ain’t such a mighty easy thing when you come to 
do it yourself as it looks while you ’re watching 
somebody else; about the time you ’re half-way up 
the hair on your head will come pretty nigh to stand¬ 
ing on end; but bless you, Amateur, a man soon 
gets over that, till shinning outside of a building 
don’t seem more ’n child’s play. 

“ Then there ’s the drill of building a chain— 
making a line of ladders from the roof to the street 
—and getting from the upper window out over the 
cornice. Straddling sills is another lesson you ’ll 
have to learn, till you can get astride of one, and by 


174 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


holding on with your knees, work as handy as on 
the ground. Standing on sills; working the life-line; 
climbing crosswise so ’s to step from one window and 
go to the next story on a slant, instead of straight 
up; using the life net by jumping down, or holding 
it for others to leap into—and if it so chances that you 
are ever set to holding one, Amateur, my boy, you ’ll 
find it ain’t child’s play. I ’ve heard it said that 
when a man weighing one hundred and fifty pounds 
jumps from the sixth floor of a building, he strikes 
the net with a force of nigh on to eighteen hundred 
pounds, and I tell you them as are holding it have to 
keep scratching.” 

“Do you reckon I ’ll be allowed to practise with 
the men, Mr. Davis?” Seth asked as the driver 
paused an instant. 

“I’m counting on it, lad ; but don’t make up your 
mind it ’ll be right away. We of Ninety-four’s com¬ 
pany believe we know what kind of a boy you are, 
because we’ve tried you, so to speak; but up here 
where we ’re going they’ve got only our word for it, 
and won’t count very much on that till they ’ve 
found it out for themselves. It may take a long 
time, and then again it may n’t; but every boy, what¬ 
ever business he goes into, is bound to prove him¬ 
self before he ’s thought to be of much account. 
It ’ll be the same at headquarters. Turn to, Ama¬ 
teur, the same as you ’ve done since we knew you, 


A T HEADQUARTERS. 175 

and before a year goes by I reckon on seeing you in 
the drill.” 

“ Are the men always practising ? ” 

Not every minute of the time, you know, be¬ 
cause it comes precious nigh being hard work; but 
you can count on their doing all a man ought to do in 
the twelve hours. When it’s storming, or too cold 
to work in the yard, you ’ll find them ’ere grown-up 
scholars in the gymnasium on the fifth floor, at work 
coupling or uncoupling hose; learning how to fight 
cellar fires, or practising with the tin-cutters for 
opening roofs. They ’re told about battering-rams, 
axes, hooks, and, finally, everything that we use, 
until the man who graduates up at headquarters is 
fit to handle a company all by himself, save, of 
course, that he lacks experience. Now, if it so hap¬ 
pens that one don’t learn quick enough, or shows he 
has n’t got a good head for the business, he ’s 
switched right off, and that ends his chance of 
getting into the Department. Of course kids are 
never taken on, and it ain’t held out to you that 
you ’re going there on probation. We’ve got a job 
for you as a boy in the building, that’s all, but with 
what little influence Ninety-four’s men can use, and 
some thrown in from the other companies that we ’re 
friendly with, the idea is to slip you through on the 
sly, so to speak. If you please them at head¬ 
quarters there ’ll be no voice raised agin your prac- 


176 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


tising now and again with the others, and then is the 
time that everything depends on you. 

“You ’ve run to fires for the sake of getting 
points; but never had a chance to see whether you 
could carry them out or not. Now the opportunity 
is coming; if it ’s in you to do the work, why, when 
you ’re sizable we shan’t have any trouble in getting 
you taken on probation, providing, of course, you can 
pass both examinations, and about that we’ve got 
to talk later. I don’t want you to think a fireman 
is a regular idiot when it comes to book-learning. 
The older hands of us may be ’way off on such things; 
but them as goes through the civil-service examina¬ 
tion have got to be pretty well posted, an’ I ’m 
counting on your working into some night-school.” 

Seth had listened attentively to the old driver’s 
words; but there was a cloud on his face when men¬ 
tion was made of the fact that a fireman must have 
a certain amount of book-learning. 

I don’t know hardly anythin’ at all, Mr. 
Davis,” he said in a mournful tone. 

“You can read, can’t you ? ” 

“ Yes, if the words ain’t too long.” 

“ And write ? ” 

“ Well, I would n’t like to say I really could, 
’cause it’s just puttin’ down letters same as they ’re 
printed.” 

“ Did n’t you ever go to school, Amateur ? ” 


AT HEADQUARTERS. 


177 


“ No, sir.” 

" Why not ?” 

’Cause I ’ve allers had to hustle for my livin,’ 
an’ it never seemed as though I had the time; but 
now since you’ve begun to talk I know I might have 
done it evenings, instead of hangin’ ’round with the 
fellers, or sleepin’. If I ’d known folks had to go 
to school before they could be firemen, I ’d been 
studyin’ these last two.years.” 

I believe you, my boy, and if you had put into 

the work at books anywhere near as hard as you 

have on what you call ‘ picking up points,’ you ’d 

have been pretty well along by this time. How- 

somever, we can remedy that, though we can’t call 

back lost time. Jerry Walters and I ’ll figger up 

what’s to be done, and explain further as soon as 

we’ve settled matters, ’cause you see, Amateur, you 

belong to Ninety-four, an’ we ain’t of the mind to 

have you fail in what you set out after.” 

“ Shall I have any chance to see you ? ” 

“ Bless you, lad, yes. You ’ll be through between 

six and seven o’clock, and we ’ll be glad to have you 

drop in any evening till you set about studying; 

then I allow we ’ll fix up some place so’s you can 

be away from your partner and his friends. We 

won’t have any soft talk after we get inside, so I ’ll 

say it all now. Keep your upper lip stiff, Amateur; 

don’t get down at the heel if them as are in charge 
12 


i;8 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


seem to bear on a little too hard; remember that all 
hands of Ninety-four’s company are counting on you 
to make good their words, and be a man. Unless 
we get a call you ’ll see us to-night, so there ain’t 
need of saying very much more just now.” 

By this time they had arrived at headquarters, 
and ’Lish Davis entered the building with the air of 
one who has no especial interest in whoever may be 
following him. 


CHAPTER XI. 


SAM’S RETURN. 

I T was nearly eight o’clock on the evening of the 
day Seth paid his first visit to headquarters and he 
was greeted warmly by such of the men as were on 
the lower floor. 

“ Where’s Mr. Davis ? ” he asked. 

" He had twenty-four hours’ leave an’ ain’t likely 
to flash up before to-morrow noon,” Jerry Walters 
replied. ** How did you get along at head¬ 
quarters ? ” 

“ That I ain’t quite so certain of,” Seth replied 
doubtfully. 

“ Why not ? Anything gone wrong ? ” 

“ No; but it don’t seem as though the men up 
there had very much to say to me.” 

“ Found you plenty of work, eh ? ” 

“ Oh, yes; there was enough of that.” 

“ A little too much, I reckon, if it kept you till 
this hour.” 

“ I was told that I should knock off at six o’clock, 
but then I had n’t finished the job I was workin’ 
on, an’ so stayed till it was done.” 

179 


8o 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ How did ’Lish Davis swell ’round ?” 

“ I did n’t see anythin’ of him after we got inside. 
He told a man there who I was, an’ two or three of 
’em hunted ’round to find work for me.” 

“ Well, how do you like it so far ’s you ’ve 
gone ?” Jerry Walters asked with a smile, and the 
remainder of the company gathered around to hear 
the reply. 

“ I ’d like anythin’ that was givin’ me a show of 
gettin’ into the Department. Of course it ain’t so 
pleasant in the house doin’ all kinds of work as it is 
out of doors layin’ still when you want to, or talkin’ 
with the fellers.” 

“ Then you don’t feel like backin’ out yet ? ” 

“ No sir-ee! I ’ll never feel like that. Look here, 
I ’ve got to be up at seven o’clock to-morrow morn- 
in’, an’ why could n’t I shine your boots to-night ? ” 

“ ’Cause then is the time for you to rest, Ama¬ 
teur. Don’t bother your head about our boots 
being shined, for we ’ll tend to that part of it. I 
reckon there ’ll be as much work at headquarters as 
you can comfortably do, so there’s no need to come 
’round here except to make a friendly call. Of 
course we ’re expectin’ to see you pretty nigh every 
evenin’ so ’s to have a report of how things are 
goin’; but so far’s your blackin’ our boots, that’s 
all nonsense, and if ’Lish Davis was here this minute 
he ’d tell you the same,” 


SAM'S RETURN. 


18 


But I want to do it, an’ Mr. Davis promised me 
I should, ’cause it ’ll make it seem as if I was tryin’ 
to square up for what all of you have done for me.” 

Jerry Walters tried to persuade Seth that he had 
better not attempt to do so much, particularly at 
the outset; but it could readily be told from the 
expression on the boy’s face that he was not con¬ 
vinced, and Mr. Walters refrained from making 
further efforts in that line. 

After answering a few more questions and promis¬ 
ing to visit the engine-house on the following even¬ 
ing, Seth, feeling even more tired than he looked, 
set out for home, and Mr. Walters said to his com¬ 
rades : 

“ That kid will work himself down to skin an’ 
bones for the sake of tryin’ to show he’s thankful 
for the lift we’ve given him, and as for making his 
way into the Department, why, there ain’t a ghost 
of a show that he ’ll fail.” 

And every member of the company appeared to 
share Jerry’s opinion regarding the matter. 

When Seth arrived at Mrs. Hanson’s he found 
Bill Dean and Dan making ready to retire, and the 
latter cried in a joyful tone: 

“ I ’m mighty glad you’ve come, Seth. Bill an’ 
me was jest figgerin’ that they’d fixed it up to have 
you sleep there nights.” 

“ There was n’t anythin’ said about that, and I 


102 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


reckon they don’t want boys ’round,” the amateur 
fireman replied gloomily, and Bill asked in surprise: 

“ Why, what’s the matter, old man ? Ain’t get- 
tin’ discouraged so soon, are you ? ” 

” I reckon it ’ll be all right after a spell, an’ I 
would n’t want any of Ninety-four’s men to know 
that I was n’t jest as chipper as a sparrer; but things 
are different up there from what they are down here. 
They jest set you to work an’ let you keep hummin' 
without sayin’ a word. I don’t believe a single one 
of ’em has spoke to me since Mr. Davis went 
away.” 

“ What you been doin’ ? ” 

” Cleanin’ windows; an’ I tell you they ’re so big 
that one of ’em makes considerable work. I hung 
on to it till I ’d finished all on that floor, even 
though they told me to go home at six o’clock.” 

“ What are you goin’ to do to-morrow ? ” 

“ I don’t know. Anythin’ that comes up, I 
s’pose.” 

Did n’t they give you any lesions in the 
school ? ” 

I have n’t even seen it yet. There might have 
been a hundred men ’round there practisin’ for all 
I’d know, ’cause I was in the front of the buildin’.” 

“ Why, I thought you ’d go right to work learnin’ 
to be a fireman,” Dan said in surprise. 

Mr. Davis never allowed anythin’ like that. 


SAM'S RETURN . 


I «3 


He said after a spell, when I ’d showed ’em I could 
’tend to business, I might get a show; but you see, 
it ain’t anyways certain that they ’ll do what Ninety- 
four’s men have been countin’ on. I’ve got to take 
the chances, you know, and work my way in.” 

Both Dan and Bill were disappointed by this re¬ 
port. They had fancied certain tasks might be re¬ 
quired of Seth; but firmly believed he would be 
given instructions at once. 

In fact, Dan had told his roommate several times 
during the day that he expected to see Seth an 
enrolled member of the Department within a few 
months, adding in support of such belief: 

“ When that feller tackles anythin’ he goes right 
through with it, an’ if he ain’t big enough now he’s 
got the nerve in him to grow terribly. It seems 
like he does everythin’ he starts for.” 

Now that Seth appeared despondent his comrades 
believed it their duty to cheer him, and during 
half an hour or more they set about such task in 
earnest. 

It seemed to them as if he was already growing 
more cheerful when the shrill whistling of a peculiar 
note was heard several times repeated, apparently 
on the sidewalk in front of the dwelling. 

“ That’s Teddy Bowser!” Bill Dean exclaimed 
as he leaped to his feet. ** He wanted to come up 
here to-night, but I told him he must n’t, ’cause if 


184 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

the fellers hung ’round I’d lose my show for a tony 
lodgin’.” 

“ Go down and see what he wants,” Dan sug¬ 
gested. “ I don’t believe we’d better let him come 
in, for there are three of us here now, an’ Miss Han¬ 
son might think she was havin’ too many fellers 
’round for sixty cents a week.” 

Bill descended the stairs swiftly but noiselessly, 
returning in less than five minutes with a look of 
consternation upon his face. 

“ Say, Sam Barney’s got back! ” 

“ Got back! ” Seth cried in astonishment and dis¬ 
may. ** Why, how’d he raise the money ? ” 

“ That ’s what Teddy did n’t know. He said 
Sam flashed up ’bout an hour ago lookin’ as chipper 
as you please, an’ with cash in his pocket. He’s 
tumbled to our racket, an’ is promenadin’ ’round 
town sayin’ he ’ll catch Jip Collins before to-morrow 
night.” 

The three boys gazed at each other in perplexity, 
and fully a moment elapsed before the almost pain¬ 
ful silence was broken. 

Then Seth said interrogatively: 

“ Of course Teddy knew what he was talkin’ 
’bout ? ” 

Oh yes, he has n’t made any mistake, ’cause he 
saw Sam and heard him blow ’bout what a swell 
time he had in Philadelphy.” 


SAM'S RETURN. 


I8 5 


He could n’t have been there very long.” 

I don’t understand it,” and Bill plunged his 
hands deep in his pocket as he looked gloomily 
around. “ I thought when we shipped him off that 
we’d settled the detective business, an’ now it ain’t 
any dead certain thing he won’t run right across Jip 
Collins, ’cause the poor feller thinks Sam’s so far 
away there’s no danger of meetin’ him.” 

“ Where’s Teddy ? ” Dan asked. 

“ Down on the sidewalk.” 

“ What’s he waitin’ for ? ” 

“ I told him he’d better hold on a spell, ’cause 
we ’ve got to do somethin , fellers, an’ perhaps he 
can help us.” 

“ But if Sam’s here with money in his pocket, 
how shall we stop him from workin’ up the case ? ” 
Dan asked helplessly. 

“ First off we must tell Jip/’ Seth replied 
promptly. “ To-morrow mornin’ you an’ Bill will 
have to see what can be done with Sam. It won’t 
do to let him keep on the way he was goin’ before 
we sent him off.” 

“ I reckon you can’t stop him if he’s set on doin’ 
it, an’ he likely will be now he finds you ’re in the 
Department, ’cause he said he was goin’ to be an 
out-an’-out detective long before you ever dreamed 
of gettin’ a fireman’s job.” 

“ If he only knew how little of a fireman I am he 


86 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


would n’t feel very bad ’bout it,” Seth said with a 
sigh, and then added more cheerily, “ Come on, 
fellers, we must find Jip, an’ not stay out too late 
either, else Miss Hanson will raise a row.” 

The three went down the stairs softly, crept out 
on the sidewalk as if their own lives might be in 
jeopardy if the slightest noise was made, and there 
met Teddy Bowser. 

** Oh yes, I saw him,” Teddy said in reply to 
Seth’s question. “ He ’s been swingin’ himself 
’round Grand Street big as life for more ’n an hour; 
says he had a great time in Philadelphy, an’ ain’t 
certain but he ’ll go over there to live after he gets 
Jip in jail. Sam must have struck some mighty soft 
snap, ’cause when he left this town he had only six¬ 
teen cents to his name.” 

“ Do you s’pose he could find any one chump 
enough to lend him money ? ” Dan asked musingly, 
and Seth said almost sharply: 

“ It won’t pay for us to stand here tryin’ to figger 
how he’ s fixed things, ’cause we must be back 
mighty soon, and it may take quite a spell to find 
jip.” 

“ I reckon it will,” Teddy added emphatically. 

I hunted all ’round the ferry for him.” 

** Why, how did you know where he was ? ” 

“ The fellers told me. I did n’t think it was a 

secret.” 


SAM'S RETURN. 


187 


It ought to have been,” and Seth looked more 
distressed than before. “ If all hands know, it 
won’t take Sam Barney a great while to find out.” 

He was talkin’ ’bout it when I left; said there 
was no need of goin’ to the ferry till mornin’, ’cause 
he could put his hands on him when he wanted to. 
Some of Jip’s chums must have gone back on him, 
an’ I would n’t wonder if I knew who. You see, 
Denny Macey was tellin’ ’round that if Jip did n’t 
ante up the dime he borrowed two weeks ago, he’d 
make trouble for him.” 

“ Don’t let’s stand here any longer,” and Seth 
led the way at a rapid pace toward the ferry. 

Beyond speculating as to how the would-be de¬ 
tective had been enabled to return from Philadel¬ 
phia, those who were seeking to do Jip Collins an 
additional favor indulged in little conversation 
during the hurried journey across the city. 

As they neared the ferry each kept a sharp watch 
in the hope of meeting the boy whom he sought, 
but when they stood at the very entrance of the slip 
no sign of Jip had been seen, and then the difficulty 
of the search began to be apparent. 

Master Collins was a stranger in this section of the 
city, and they might question a dozen boys without 
finding one who had so much as heard of him, 
therefore the quest was likely to be a long if not a 


vain one. 


188 


AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN. 


“ It ’ll soon be too late to do anything if we don’t 
hustle,” Seth said when he realized all the possibili¬ 
ties against success. “ Let each feller start out 
alone, and there ’ll be jest so many more chances of 
runnin’ across him. We ’ll meet here by the ferry 
slip in half an hour.” 

This plan was acted upon without delay, and 
each member of the searching party did his best to 
bring the labor to a speedy and final conclusion; 
but when at the expiration of the time set the four 
met once more, nothing had been discovered. 

” He’s turned in,” Bill Dean said in a tone of 
conviction. 

If it’s with that chum of yourn it ought ’er be 
easy to find him.” 

He was n’t a chum of mine, an’ I don’t so much 
as know his name. It’s a feller I’ve run across two 
or three times down-town, that ’s all.” 

“ Then I can’t see but what we must call it a bad 
job, for there’s no kind of use in foolin’ ’round here 
any longer.” 

But if we don’t find him now all Sam Barney ’s 
got to do is to walk over here in the mornin’,” Dan 
said mournfully, and Bill Dean cried emphatically: 

I ’ll get ahead of that bloomin’ detective if I 
have to set up all night! You can count on my 
bein’ right here at daylight, an’ that’s the best any¬ 
body can do. You ought to get to bed, Seth, 


SAM’S RETURN. 189 

’cause you ’ve got to turn out pretty early in the 
mornin’.” 

That it was useless to remain in that vicinity any 
longer with the hope of meeting Jip by chance, all 
understood, and mournfully they turned their faces 
homeward, Teddy Bowser suggesting that he might 
be able to do the repentant firebug a friendly turn 
by delaying Sam a certain length of time next 
morning. 

I ’ll ask him to tell me about his detective work, 
an’ you can bet he won’t lose such a chance, ’cause 
there’s nothin’ in this world he likes to talk about 
as well as himself.” 

“ All right, you do that, Teddy, an’ I ’ll snoop 
over here,” Bill added. ” Of course Seth can’t take 
a hand in this work, on account of havin’ to go to 
headquarters, but Dan will kind-er lay ’round any¬ 
where, either to head Sam off, or find Jip.” 

Then Teddy Bowser took his departure for the 
night, and Mrs. Hanson’s three lodgers returned to 
their room thoroughly distressed in mind. 

The greater portion of the night might have been 
spent by them in discussing this new phase of affairs 
but for Seth, who said when his comrades began to 
hold forth on the subject: 

” You fellers can’t do any good talkin’. I’ve got 
to get some sleep if I count on bein’ up early enough 
in the mornin’ to do the work over to the engine- 


I90 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

house an’ get to my job at seven o’clock, so s’pose 
you quiet down and give me a chance ? ” 

This was no more than a reasonable request, and 
soon Mrs. Hanson’s lodgers were enjoying their 
needed repose, despite the troubles which had come 
upon them. 

Seth, whose last thought had been that he must 
waken early, opened his eyes just as the day was 
dawning, and aroused his comrades. 

“ You fellers must turn out if you count on help¬ 
in’ Jip this mornin’, an’ I’m goin’ to get right off. 
Seems to me it would be a good idea if Bill was at 
the ferry right soon.” 

“ I ’ll start now,” Master Dean replied, and, since 
their plans had been fully arranged the night pre¬ 
vious, there was nothing to prevent Seth from going 
at once to Ninety-four’s house. 

The watchman on duty admitted him with a re¬ 
proof for trying to crowd too much work into one 
day; but made no further objection when the ama¬ 
teur fireman declared that he should “ feel better if 
he did the shinin’ the same’s ever.” 

Not a man was awake save the one on duty, 
when, his work finished, Seth hurried toward head¬ 
quarters. 

When he arrived it lacked twenty minutes of the 
time set for him to begin work, and the first person 
he met inside the building was a gray-haired man 


SAM'S RETURN. 


I 9 I 

wearing such a uniform as did Jerry Walters, the 
driver of Ninety-four, and all Seth’s particular friends. 

“ What are you doing here ?” the official asked 
in a not very friendly tone. 

I began to work ’round this place yesterday 
noon,” Seth replied in an apologetic manner. 

Oh, you did, eh ? You must be the kid ’Lish 
Davis made so much talk about.” 

I am the boy he got the job for, sir.” 

“ Well, what are you doing here so early ? Seven 
o’clock is the hour.” 

“ Yes, sir; but I don’t s’pose it can make much 
difference if I ’m here a little before time, ’cause 
then I ’ll get more done, don’t you see ? ” 

“ And you were figuring on that same thing 
when you stayed here until eight o’clock last night, 
eh ?” 

“ No, sir; I stayed ’cause I was n’t through wash- 
in’ all the windows on the second floor, an’ did n’t 
want to leave the job half done.” 

“ Well, in the future you’d better go home when 
the clock strikes six, the same as others do. What 
task have they set for you this morning ? ” 

“ Nothing as yet, sir.” 

“ That ’s because you did your work too well 
yesterday. I suppose they allowed you had enough 
to last through the balance of this day.” 

“ It would be a pretty poor kind of a boy who 


192 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


could n’t do more ’n wash that many windows in a 
day an’ a half,” Seth replied laughingly, fancying 
that this man’s gruff manner was no indication of 
bad temper, but rather the reverse. 

“ They tell me you ’re counting on being a fire¬ 
man one of these days ? ” 

“ Yes, sir,” Seth replied promptly and decisively. 

“ You seem to be pretty certain of it.” 

“ So I am, sir, ’cause I ’ll get there after a time 
if I work hard.” 

“ You will for a fact, my son, if you believe it as 
firmly as you seem to. How much have you seen 
of the building so far ? ” 

“ I ’ve only been in the room where I was work- 
in’ yesterday.” 

“ Come up into the gymnasium with me. I ’m 
running things in that quarter, an’ it might be we 
can work you in with better profit there, than at 
window-washing. 

It was as if Seth’s heart gave a great bound just 
then, for in the gymnasium was begun the first of 
the fireman’s lessons, and if he should be so fortu¬ 
nate as to be set at work there it seemed that ad¬ 
vancement must necessarily be rapid. 

Even though he had had less reason of wishing to 
be occupied in this portion of the building, he could 
not but have been delighted when he entered the 
well-appointed place, and he gazed around in what 


SAM’S RETURN. 


*93 


was very like ail ecstasy of joy until suddenly 
aroused by the voice of this new acquaintance. 

Do you think you could keep things in proper 
shape here ? There’s plenty of work to be done, 
and at present we are getting none of the best.” 

** I ’d like to have a chance to try, sir.” 

“ Very well; I ’ll see to the red tape of the busi¬ 
ness down stairs, and in the meanwhile do you set 
about doing whatever you think is necessary. If 
’Lish Davis was n’t mistaken, I ’ll see to it you get 
all the instruction in this portion of the building 
that you can stagger under, and it may be we ’ll put 
a little more muscle into you ’twixt now and the 
next few months.” 

Then, without having specified what it was he 
wished Seth to busy himself with, the gray-haired 
man turned to leave the gymnasium, when he sud¬ 
denly stopped and asked sharply: 

“ Have you been to breakfast ? ” 

“ No, sir; I was told that I’d get my grub here.” 

“ Then why did n’t you ’tend to it when you first 
came in ? ” 

“ ’Cause I met you, sir.” 

“ I suppose you had n’t thought you might be 
needing something to eat ? ” 

“ It would have been no great matter, sir. I’ve 
got along until noon a good many days without any¬ 
thin’, an’ can do it again.” 


194 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ There ’s no need of that here, my son. Re¬ 
member to get your meals on time, for regularity of 
habits,—although that will become a luxury if you 
are ever made a fireman,—regularity of habits is 
quite as necessary for the strength and building up 
of your body as any exercise you can take here. 
So far as possible eat at the same hour each day; go 
to bed early, get up early, and at all times see to it 
that your body is properly cared for. When did 
you have a bath last ? ” 

“It’s been quite a spell since I went in swimmin’, 
sir.” 

“ Well, you can begin the day with that. Use 
plenty of cold water, and I reckon the towels are 
coarse enough. Then get your breakfast, come up 
here, and go to work.” 

“ At anything special, sir ? ” 

“ Whatever you see that ’s needed to be done.” 

Then this employer, who had given him such good 
advice, walked quietly away, and Seth was left to 
find the bathroom as best he might. 

During this day Master Bartlett worked as indus¬ 
triously as ever; but with better heart than while 
employed about the first task set him at head¬ 
quarters, for he had reason to believe there was at 
least one in the building who would lend him a 
helping hand, and the future seemed much brighter 
than it had twenty-four hours previous. 


SAM'S RETURN. 


*95 


This new friend, who was spoken of as “ Josh” 
by those who seemed to be best acquainted with 
him, and by others as “ Mr. Fernald,” apparently 
gave no heed to the boy, and Seth did whatever 
seemed to him most necessary, although there were 
many times when he was tempted to stop in order 
to watch the men at their exercises, until half-past 
five in the afternoon, when the man whom he was 
beginning to look upon as a friend said sharply: 

“ Get your supper, now, Seth Bartlett, and to¬ 
morrow morning see to it that you have breakfast 
before coming up here.” 

Seth wanted to say good-night to Mr. Fernald; 
but doubtful as to how such familiarity might be re¬ 
ceived, he departed in silence, turning around as 
soon as he was in the corridor where none could see 
him, to wave his hand in adieu. 

Supper had been eaten, and he was on the side¬ 
walk outside of headquarters just as the whistles 
were blowing for the hour of six. 

“I ’ll have a chance to stop a good while in Ninety- 
four’s house to-night, an’ there may another alarm 
come so’s I can go out with her again,” he said to him¬ 
self, and at that instant Teddy Bowser appeared from 
around the corner of the building and cried excitedly: 

“ Dan Roberts an’ Bill Dean sent me up here to 
tell you that Sam Barney’s had Jip Collins ’rested 
this afternoon ’bout three o’clock.” 


CHAPTER XII. 


THE PRISONER. 

I T was several moments before Seth could bring 
himself to believe that Dan and Bill Dean had 
utterly failed in their efforts to save Jip Collins from 
the would-be detective. 

During the day he had given the matter compara¬ 
tively little thought, believing that, having set out 
on their mission of mercy at such an early hour, his 
roommates would succeed in their efforts. 

Sam Barney was known to all his acquaintances 
as a boy opposed to rising very early, or working 
very hard, and it had been no more than reasonable 
to suppose Jip would be warned in time. 

Teddy Bowser could give very little information, 
and that which he did impart only served to heighten 
the mystery. 

He stated that he met Sam at about seven o’clock 
that morning, and talked with him concerning his 
visit to Philadelphia with the purpose, as previously 
agreed upon, of delaying him until nearly nine 
o’clock. 

That then the alleged detective had gone toward 
196 


THE PRISONER. \ gy 

Fulton Market with the avowed intention of meet¬ 
ing a friend, and Teddy was positive Jip had not 
been arrested until late in the afternoon. 

“ Where was Dan an’ Bill when they sent you to 
tell me ? ” 

“ Over by Jefferson Market; that ’s where Jip ’s 
been jugged.” 

Were they to wait there for me ? ” 

“ That ’s what they reckoned on, except you 
thought them firemen of yourn could help out.” 

“If Jip ’s really been Tested I don’t believe 
Ninety-four’s men could do anything, ’cordin’ to 
the way Mr. Davis talks. We ’ll go right down 
to the market.” 

During the long journey, for neither Seth nor 
Teddy could afford to pay ten cents for car-fare, the 
latter told as nearly as he could remember Sam 
Barney’s version of his visit to “ Philadelphy. ” 

“He says the way he figgered it out at first, Jip 
Collins ought ’er been over there; but he’d found 
out his mistake soon enough if you fellers had n’t 
hurried him off.” 

“ He did n’t go for most a day after he acted 
’bout crazy to get away.” 

“ That’s one of his excuses, of course; I 'm jest 
givin’ you the fairy story he flashed up to me. He 
says he was n’t any sooner in the train than he be¬ 
gan to work the plan over in his mind, same’s all 


198 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


the detectives do, an’ it did n’t take him a great 
while to figger how it was. At the jump he thought 
it was mighty queer that Bill Dean should go ’round 
raisin’ money to send him away, an’ after he was 
in the cars he tumbled to himself, don’t you see ? 
To hear him tell it you ’d believe all he had to do 
was to set down an’ think over things to find out 
jest what was what.” 

” It’s a big pity he could n’t think who stole his 
money,” Seth interrupted. 44 ’Cordin’ to his story 
he ’s been after the thief ever since.” 

“He says he would have caught him if this case 
of Jip’s had n’t turned up, an’ seein ’s it was so 
much bigger he dropped everything else. Well, 
after he made up his mind that the fellers what 
chipped in the money was tryin’ to run him out of 
town, the train started, so of course he had to keep 
on; but he ’d fixed it with himself that he was 
bound to come straight back soon ’s he could. I 
reckon he swelled himself ’round the depot over in 
Philadelphy, blew in the sixteen cents he had, an’ 
give some of the fellers a terrible stiff ’bout bein’ a 
detective, till he borrowed money of ’em to come 
back. The way he tells it is that jest as soon as he got 
there people knew who he was, an’ give him a great 
reception. He makes out that there was a slat of 
folks hangin’ round the station tryin’to get a chance 
to see him; but that ’s all in your eye, of course.” 


THE PRISONER. 


199 


Sam Barney must be a fool if he thinks any¬ 
body is goin’ to believe such yarns.” 

He must think it, else he would n’t tell ’em. 
Now, ’cordin’ to his story, some of them fellers was 
jest loaded with the stuff, and they put up the price 
of a railroad ticket back. I don’t know what he did 
with himself while he was in the town, ’cause you 
can’t make out anything by what he says.” 

“ Why did n’t he come back on the next train if 
everybody was ready to lend him money ? ” 

** He says he jest actually could n’t get away from 
the crowd 4hat wanted to see him an’ talk to him, 
so he stayed a spell to give ’em a good time by show- 
in’ himelf. Then when he got ready he swings on 
board, an’ over he comes. But he’s chafin’ under 
the collar, Seth, ’cause the fellers sent him off when 
he ought ’er have stayed, an’ that’s why he’s so 
down on Jip Collins.” 

“ He was jest as bad before Bill Dean ever begun 
to raise money to get rid of him, else; it would have 
been different. I tried to make him promise to let 
Jip alone, an’ he would n’t listen to any talk at all. 
He thinks it ’ll be a big thing for him in case he puts 
it through. If I could n’t get on in the world ex¬ 
cept it was by sendin’ some feller to jail, I’d stick 
to sellin’ papers or blackin’ boots the rest of my 
life.” 

” Sam is pretty near green thinkin’ you’ve got 


200 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


ahead so fast; but says that jest as soon as he has 
worked the case up against Jip he ’ll smash your 
racket all to pieces.” 

** Have you seen him since he did this terrible 
fine piece of detective work ? ” 

“ No; I had n’t heard anythin’ ’bout it till Dan 
hailed me.” 

For some time after this Seth remained silent try¬ 
ing to devise a plan by which he could aid the un¬ 
fortunate firebug; but the more he considered the 
matter the less probable did it seem that either he 
or his comrades could in any way benefit the 
prisoner. 

“ I’m ’fraid Jip will go up the river,” he said at 
length, and Teddy replied mournfully: 

“ I guess he ’s a goner for a fact, an’ all on 
account of Sam Barney’s wantin’ to show hisself a 
detective.” 

When the two had come to their journey’s end 
Dan and Bill Dean were seen solemnly pacing to 
and fro on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to 
the court-room, looking sadly disheartened. 

“ Have you done anythin’ yet ? ” Seth asked in a 
low tone as he joined them. 

“ There’s nothin’ we can do. Jip’s locked up, 
an’ Sam Barney’s struttin’ ’round the streets show- 
in’ hisself off for a first-class detective,” Dan replied 
in a tone of irritation. 


THE PRISONER . 


201 


Do you know how he happened to nab him ? ” 
It must have been that Denny Macey give him 
away,” Bill Dean replied, “ for I saw Jip this morn- 
in’ early, an’ he ’greed to keep out er sighto” 

Do you s’pose he stayed on the street after that ? ” 
Denny knew where he slept last night, and must 
have told Sam, jest as some of the fellers say he 
threatened to do.” 

“ Well,” Seth said after a brief reflection, “ if 
you can’t help him, what ’s the use of standin’ 
here ? ” 

“ We was waitin’ for you. I thought, an’ so did 
Dan, that perhaps the driver of Ninety-four might 
cook up some kind of a plan we could work through. 
Anyhow, it don’t seem as though it would do much 
harm for you to talk with him.” 

“ Of course it won’t; but if it was n’t that Jip’s 
likely to be sent to jail for a good many years I 
would n’t bother him, ’cause it don’t seem the 
square shake for me to keep runnin’ there whenever 
things turn wrong.” 

“ It would be pretty tough to let Jip be sent up 
for four or five years jest ’cause you did n’t want to 
bother Ninety-four’s crew.” 

“ I know that, Bill, an’ I ’m goin’ to talk to Mr. 
Davis now. I was only sayin’ I would n’t do it if 
things was n’t the way they are. I ’ll go ahead, an’ 
you fellers meet me up to the room after I get 


202 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


through, ’cause it won't do for all hands to loaf 
’round in front of the engine-house.” 

To this proposition those who were ready to sacri¬ 
fice their own pleasure and interests in order to aid 
the penitent firebug made no demur, and Seth set 
out at full speed, leaving the others to follow at a 
more leisurely pace. 

“ Hello, Amateur! It seems to me you ’ve 
knocked off work kind-er late to-night ? ” ’Lish 
Davis cried as the boy entered the engine-house. 

“ Mr. Fernald, the man who runs the gymnasium, 
told me I was to go away every night at six 
o’clock-” 

“ So Josh has taken you in hand as he promised, 
eh ?” 

“ He’s given me a chance up in the gymnasium, 
where I can’t help seein’ a good deal of the drillin’ 
even when I ’m workin’, an’ it seems as though it 
was a mighty soft snap.” 

“ Josh ain’t a man who ’ll make it very soft for 
any boy. You ’ve got to toe the mark pretty 
straight with him, Amateur; but if it so be you 
strike him just right things will move along in great 
shape. Why did n’t you leave headquarters as he 
told you ? ” 

I did, sir; but Teddy Bowser was waitin’ out¬ 
side to tell me that Sam Barney has had Jip Collins 
’rested for settin’ fire to the lumber-yard.” 


THE PRISONER. 203 

So, so! He has, eh ? I thought you shipped 
that bloomin’ detective over to Philadelphia ? ” 

“ That’s what we did, Mr. Davis; but he man¬ 
aged to get back, an’ tumbled to the trick we played 
on him, so the very first thing he does is to get Jip 
pulled.” 

“ Well, whether it be bqys or men who go wrong, 
sooner or later they’ve got to pay the penalty in 
some fashion, and perhaps it ’s just as well this 
Collins chap should square matters now as at any 
other time.” 

“ But it seems terrible, Mr. Davis, to have him 
sent to jail for nobody knows how many years.” 

“ It ’ll be a good many if he’s convicted on the 
charge of arson; that I can give you as a straight 
tip.” 

“ I was in hopes you ’d feel kind of bad about it, 
Mr. Davis,” Seth said, hesitatingly. 

“ Meaning to say you counted on my trying to 
help pull him through after he destroyed valuable 
property and come pretty nigh being the death of 
you and your partner ? ” 

“ Well, you see, he’s awful sorry-” 

“ Yes, most of ’em are after the crime has been 
committed.” 

“ But I don’t b’lieve Jip really meant to do any¬ 
thin’ like that. He’d been blowin’ ’bout how he’d 
serve us out, an’ a good many of the fellers told 



204 AN AMATEUR fireman. 

him he did n’t dare to so much as raise his hand. 
That kind-er started him, an’ if he goes to jail now 
th^ shame of it will allers stick to him.” 

“ Then you believe he ’d work ’round and be a 
decently square kind of a boy if he got out of this 
scrape ? ” 

“ I ’m almost certain of it.” 

“ Well, look here, Amateur, it ain’t for a fireman 
to go here and there, trying to defend them as have 
started a blaze; but I would n’t wonder if we could 
find some lawyer to take charge of his case. Per¬ 
haps we can get him off on the same plea you ’re 
using now—that it would serve to make a criminal of 
him, rather than work the proper kind of reforma¬ 
tion. There ’ll be plenty of time, lad, because you 
and your partner are bound to be called on as wit¬ 
nesses even on the preliminary examination, so until 
the officers find you two nothing can be done, for I 
don’t reckon your imitation detective has any 
knowledge of what happened.” 

“ He’s heard the rest of the fellers talk ’bout it.” 

“ That don’t cut any figger; all he can testify to 
is what he’s seen himself, or something the prisoner 
may have told him. I ’ll turn this thing over in my 
mind, and call on Jerry Walters and Ben Dunton for 
their advice. When you come ’round to-morrow 
night we ’ll be able to say what can be done. Now 
tell me everything you did to-day; that’s of more 


THE PRISONER. 


205 

interest to us of Ninety-four’s company than the 
arrest of the firebug.” 

Seth gave a detailed account of his movements 
from the time he entered headquarters until the 
hour of leaving, and every man on the floor listened 
eagerly to the narration of unimportant doings, 
which was the best proof they could have given of 
the deep interest felt in the amateur fireman. 

I reckon you ’ll pull through all right,” ’Lish 
Davis said approvingly when Seth brought the story 
to an end, “and now there’s a word to be said about 
your behavior here this morning. You ’ll have 
plenty of work to do ’twixt 7 A.M. and 6 P.M. with¬ 
out hustling over here before daylight and blacking 
our boots; consequently we ’re going to hire another 
boy so’s to remove the temptation from your path.” 

“ Don’t do it, please don’t do it, Mr. Davis,” Seth 
cried imploringly. “ It don’t seem like work to me. 
So long as I can be here every mornin’ an’ do some¬ 
thin’ of the kind, it ’pears as if I belong to the com¬ 
pany. S’posen you get another feller to do the 
shinin’ an’ I come ’round evenin’s to tell you what’s 
been goin’ on ? Why, it would only look as if I was 
a visitor. I don’t want to give up all my hold here, 
an’ that’s what will happen if somebody else does 
the shinin’.” 

There could be no question but that Seth was 
deeply in earnest, and more than one of the men 


206 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


nodded to the driver as if to say that the boy should 
be allowed to do as he pleased. 

Jerry Walters took it upon himself to say very 
decidedly: 

“ I think, ’Lish, Amateur is right, an’ you ’ve 
got no call to cut him off from what he wants to do, 
’specially after it’s been once agreed upon. It ain’t 
that I ’m figgering to have my boots shined for 
nothing; but I ’m feeling a good deal as he does. 
I ’d like to have him come ’round regularly, an’ 
we ’ll be certain of it if there’s work to be done.” 

“ Very well, very well,” the driver replied. “ He 
shall keep on for a spell, though it ain’t to my liking. 
If Amateur was a kid that spent his time kiting 
’round the streets it would be different; but he’s 
got to have some little amusement, and how is it to 
be had if he starts in at daylight blacking boots, 
works until six o’clock at headquarters, then spends 
his evening at the school ? Why, it ’ll come nigh 
to using him up.” 

“ He ain’t on at headquarters Sunday, is he ? ” 

“ No; but that’s only one day in seven, and so 
long as Amateur is in our charge, so to speak, I 
ain’t going to have him get an idea that he can spend 
the Sabbath cavorting ’round as some of his chums 
do.” 

“ When I begin to take part in the drill at head¬ 
quarters I shall have all the sport that’s needed,” 


THE PRISONER. 


207 


Seth interrupted, “ and besides, even if I go to the 
night-school, I ’ll get an hour in here between six 
an’ seven-” 

“ And a heap of fun you ’ll have with a lot of 
old cronies like us,” ’Lish added with a laugh. 

I’d rather be here than anywhere else, sir, an’ 
if you want to give me a good time now and then, 
an’ I happen to be ’round when there ’s an alarm, 
let me go out with Ninety-four; that ’ll be fun 
enough.” 

’Lish winked at his comrades as if this remark 
pleased him exceedingly, and put an end to the con¬ 
versation by saying: 

“ Look in here to-morrow night, lad, and we ’ll 
see whether it’s possible to help out your firebug 
or not. Now go home and turn in, for you can’t 
get too much sleep while you ’re young.” 

Seth obeyed without delay what was little less 
than a command, and, hastening to Mrs. Hanson’s 
dwelling, repeated to his roommates and Teddy 
Bowser all the driver had said to him concerning the 
possibilities of aiding Jip Collins. 

The boys were sadly disappointed because there 
was no actual promise of assistance. 

They had come to believe, because they hoped it 
would be so, that Mr. Davis could immediately de¬ 
vise some plan whereby Jip might be released from 
prison, and since he did not appear to be sympa- 



208 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


thetic and enthusiastic on the subject they feared 
he might fail to take any active part. 

“ I am certain he will get a lawyer for him any¬ 
how/’ Seth said in reply to their complaint, “ an’ 
that’s what we could n’t do ourselves. If it was n’t 
for goin’ to headquarters I ’d try to see the poor 
fellow to-morrow. Of course I would n’t be able to 
do anythin’ for him, but it would make him feel 
kind of good to know we was willin’ to help.” 

” I ’ll go there to-morrow,” Dan cried, pleased at 
the idea of doing something, even though he could 
not hope to effect any change in Jip’s condition. 
“ I ’ll tell him what we’ve tried to do, an’ there ’ll 
be some satisfaction in that anyhow.” 

Then Seth proposed that Master Roberts should 
hang around outside the Department headquarters 
at about six o’clock in the afternoon in order to 
report the result of the interview, after which he 
would visit Mr. Davis again. 

With this programme for the coming day thus 
settled upon, the amateur fireman suggested that 
Teddy Bowser go home in order that he and his 
roommates might retire, and half an hour later Mrs. 
Hanson’s lodgers were sleeping soundly. 

The sun had not shown his face above the eastern 
horizon next morning when Seth was at work in 
Ninety-four’s quarters, performing such labor as 
came to hand, and, owing to the fact that the com- 


THE PRISONER. 


209 


pany had been fighting fire nearly all night, no one 
save the house watchman was stirring when the 
amateur set off for his regular duties. 

At fifteen minutes before the hour of seven 

Ninety-four's kid," as some of the clerks at head¬ 
quarters had already designated Seth, entered the 
gymnasium with a bustling air as if the hardest tasks 
would be no more than a pleasure. 

"Had your breakfast?" Mr. Fernald asked 
gruffly. 

" Yes, sir." 

" How long since you turned out ? " 

" It wasn’t quite light when I left the house, sir." 

" Have you been here all that time ? " 

" Oh no, sir. You see, I go over to Ninety-four’s 
quarters to shine the company, an’ it stands me in 
hand to be out of bed pretty early." 

" What do you do to the company ? ’’ Mr. Fer¬ 
nald asked, as an expression of bewilderment came 
over his face. 

" I shine for all hands—black their boots, you 
know." 

" Yes, I understand now. Is n’t the work here 
enough to satisfy you, but that you must needs look 
around for more ? " 

" But I belong to that company, sir, an’ have to 
see my share of the business is done right up to the 
mark," Seth replied proudly, and then he explained 



210 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


to Mr. Fernald why he was eager to continue his 
connection with those who had already done so 
much to assist him. 

“ You seem precious eager to be a fireman.” 

” So I am, sir, an’ I ’m hopin’ to get along here so 
Ninety-four’s men won’t think I’m a duffer for not 
pushin’ ahead.” 

Fernald questioned him closely regarding his 
ambition to belong to the Department, and with¬ 
out being really aware of the fact Seth had soon 
told him all he knew concerning himself and his 
desires. 

” I don’t say as you’ve got it in you to be a fire¬ 
man,” the old man said, thoughtfully; ” but it 
strikes me you carry a good bit of sand, an’ I ’ve a 
mind to do even more than I promised ’Lish Davis. 
See here, my lad, supposing you could practise here 
two or three hours a day, would it tire you out so 
that the regular duties might be slighted ? ” 

” If you ’ll give me the chance, sir, I ’ll work 
enough later nights to make up for it all,” the boy 
replied eagerly. 

I guess Davis did n't lay it on any too thick 
when he told me about you. Now see here, you ’ll 
begin the day with a regular course of training, 
working until nine o’clock, after which time you ’ll 
get down to a boy’s business, see ? ” 

“ Yes, sir,” Seth replied, trembling so violently 


THE PRISONER. 


21 


with pleasure that only by the greatest exertion 
could he prevent his voice from quavering. 

Had a bath this morning ? ” 

“ No, sir.” 

** Then get one, and remember to tumble into 
cold water the first thing after coming here.” 

Seth was off like a flash, and when he returned, 
glowing with the healthful exercise, Josh Fernald 
gave him the first lesson in physical training. 

Before it was concluded “Ninety-four’s kid” came 
to understand that ’Lish Davis had only spoken the 
truth when he said the instructor was not a man 
who would “ let up on boys to any extent,” for 
Seth was forced to exert himself as he never remem¬ 
bered to have done during any previous two hours 
of his life. 

Then the lesson was concluded, and the amateur 
set about his ordinary duties, working unusually 
hard lest Mr. Fernald should decide that he could 
not at the same time attend to gymnastics and per¬ 
form the services for which he was paid by the 
city. 

He was thoroughly tired when the hour for supper 
came around; but so happy at having made some 
slight advancement toward his goal in life that all 
else was as nothing. 

That evening he bade Mr. Fernald “ good-night,” 
and received in reply the caution: 


212 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


** Don’t think you ’ll find any snap here; it ’s 
precious hard work, an’ won’t grow easier.” 

”1 ’ll stick at it, sir, if you don’t get tired 
showin’ me how,” Seth cried gleefully, and as he 
walked sturdily toward the staircase, holding him¬ 
self erect and with head thrown well back like some 
animal glorying in his strength, the old instructor 
gazed after him in almost a friendly manner. 

Seth was so elated with the idea that he could 
tell Ninety-four’s men that he had actually begun 
his training, as to have nearly forgotten the appoint¬ 
ment made with Dan; but he soon remembered it 
when Master Roberts darted out from a hiding-place 
near at hand. 

” Well, I ’ve seen him,” he cried before Seth had 
time to speak. 

" Who ?” 

“ Jip Collins, of course.” 

” How’d you get in ? ” 

“ I was hangin’ ’round there lookin’ for a chance 
when your ’Lish Davis come along with a lawyer, 
an’ I asked ’em to let me go in with them.” 

“ Mr. Davis took a lawyer there ? ” Seth repeated 
in astonishment. 

” That’s what he did, an’ I tell you, Seth, that 
fireman is a jim dandy, an’ no mistake! ” 

“ Don’t you s’pose I know that after all this 
time ?” 


THE PRISONER . 2 13 

“ Yes; but yet you did n't think he 'd do so 
much, eh ? 

He's mighty good to everybody. How was 
Jip lookin’ ? ” 

“ Terrible down. You 'd think he was expectin’ 
to be hanged by the way he takes on. I felt awful 
sorry for him, even if he did burn us out.” 

What did he say ? ” 

Not much of anythin’ ; but kept cryin’ ’bout 
all the time. Sam Barney must be feelin’ awful 
good after makin’ so much trouble.” 

“ Have you seen him ? ” Seth asked, sharply. 

“If I had he ’d be lookin’ for a doctor. I ’m 
jest achin’ to get my hands on that duffer in some 
side street where the perlice won’t come snoopin’ 
’round.” 

” See here, Dan, you must n’t fight if you ever 
want to get that Third Avenoo store, for I tell you 
no feller gets ahead by bein’ a tough. What did 
the lawyer say ? ’ ’ 

“ I did n’t hear him yip; but reckon you ’ll know 
all about it after goin’ over to Ninety-four’s house.” 

“ That’s where I ’m bound for now. Wait out¬ 
side for me, an’ I ’ll come to you as soon as I can.” 

** I don’t suppose I could sneak in ? ” 

“ I ’d rather you did n’t, Dan, ’cause it would 
look as if I was gettin’ mighty fresh to bring my 
chums along.” 


214 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ All right, old man; I ’ll wait outside.” 

There was so much in Seth’s mind that he could 
not indulge in conversation at that moment, and he 
walked so rapidly that Dan had but little opportu¬ 
nity for speaking, however much he might have 
desired to say. 

At the engine-house he found nearly all the com- . 
pany on the lower floor much as if waiting for his 
report, and ’Lish Davis greeted him by asking: 

” Well, Amateur, nothing but window-washing 
to-day ? ” 

” No, sir-ee! Mr. Fernald has begun to give me 
lessons in the gymnasium, an’ I’m to practise there 
two hours every day from this out—that is, so long 
as I do it an’ keep my reg’lar work up in shape, 
which, ’cordin’ to my way of thinkin’, will be every 
minute I have the chance of stayin’ there.” 

Did Josh really put you into physical training 
as quick as this?” Mr. Davis asked, almost in¬ 
credulously. 

” That ’s what he did, an’ though I did n’t get 
many points ’bout fires, it ’ll help me to grow in 
great shape.” 

Then Dan, waiting near the door on the outside, 
heard Ninety-four’s crew cheering loudly, and he was 
sadly at a loss to understand the meaning of such 
merriment when he believed they were discussing 
poor Jip’s sad situation. 


CHAPTER XIII. 


THE LETTER, 



HERE could be no question but that Ninety- 


four's company were highly delighted with 
the news brought by Seth regarding his progress. 

It was as if each man felt personally complimented 
by Mr. Fernald when he advanced the amateur so 
rapidly, and all united in declaring that “ Josh was 
a right good fellow." 

Seth was in the highest degree excited. He had 
expected that his friends of Ninety-four would be 
pleased at learning of his good fortune, but never 
fancied they could be so deeply interested, and now 
he began to understand what a gloom might be cast 
over the company if he should fail in this attempt 
to gain a foothold in the Department. 

'Lish Davis would not be content until the boy 
gave an exhibition of what he had learned in the 
way of gymnastic exercises during the morning, and 
when this had been brought to a close amid the ap¬ 
plause of all present, the driver said in a tone of 
satisfaction: 

" You 're getting on in great shape, Amateur, and 


2l6 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


if nothing happens to give you a pull-back, ought ’er 
be well up in the drill ’twixt now and a year from 
to-day. Josh Fernald has the name of being pre¬ 
cious hard on them as comes under him for instruc¬ 
tion; but I ’ve always allowed he ’d boost along 
mighty fast any one who struck his fancy. He 
must have seen that you were in earnest, young 
fellow, for when I talked with him the best promise 
I could get was that he ’d look you over in the 
course of a month or two.” 

” Do they keep you humpin’ on the odd jobs, 
Amateur ? ” Jerry Walters asked solicitously. 

** There ’s plenty to be done; but not enough to 
kill anybody. After I get used to the ways of the 
place I reckon it ’ll come pretty easy.” 

” That’s the kind of talk to make, young fel¬ 
low! ” the driver cried approvingly. ” Don’t allow 
that your job’s a hard one, however tough it may 
be, for a kid never gets any credit when he’s always 
whining ’bout working to death.” 

Not until ten minutes or more had been spent in 
answering the questions asked by each member of 
the company, including the captain himself, was the 
curiosity of the men satisfied concerning the ad¬ 
vancement of their prottgt, and then Seth had an 
opportunity of inquiring as to the charge against 
the firebug. 

Dan Roberts said you carried a lawyer down to 


THE LETTER. 


217 


see poor Jip, Mr. Davis,” the amateur began, and 
instantly the look of pleasurable excitement faded 
from ’Lish Davis’s face. 

“So I did, Amateur, so I did. Jerry and I 
allowed we might do that much for the kid, even 
though he ain’t deserving of any man’s attention.” 

“ Will he get out of the scrape ? ” 

“ Not before having atrial, Amateur, and then all 
must depend on the judge. It seems he owned up 
to the whole business when they first nabbed him, 
and the only thing he can do now is to plead guilty. 
The evidence that can be given by the kids from 
Brooklyn will be enough to convict him, even if he 
finds somebody to help him make a fight, which 
would n’t be good sense.” 

“ Then there’s nothin’ for the poor fellow but to 
go up the river ? ” and Seth’s voice was tremulous 
with sorrow. 

“ That ain’t altogether certain, lad. The lawyer 
thinks, and Jerry and I have the same idee, that if 
he owns up to the whole thing like a little man, it 
may be possible to have sentence suspended during 
good behavior.” 

“ What do you mean by that, Mr. Davis ? ” Seth 
asked in perplexity. 

“ Why, it’s jest like this. When he’s put on trial 
let him tell the truth. We of Ninety-four can testify 
that it was he who sent in the alarm, showing he 


218 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


was sorry as soon as the deed had been done. Then 
will come the time for the lawyer to get in his fine 
work. He ’ll do a lot of chinning ’bout the boy’s 
being young, and that it ’ll most likely make a 
criminal of him to be sent up. In some such way as 
that the judge may be brought to believe that it ’ll 
be the wisest course to suspend sentence—that is to 
say, hold the conviction over him, but at the same 
time letting him go free. If he behaves himself, 
well and good; if not, he’s brought before the court 
and sentenced on this same charge at some future 
time.” 

“Are you certain that can be done ? ” Seth asked, 
growing more hopeful. 

“ No, Amateur, we ain’t certain; but the chances 
are it can be fixed that way, and we ’ll do our best 
at it, if for no other reason than to show how good 
we ’re feeling because you ’re doing us so much 
credit up at headquarters.” 

Seth had hoped that the members of Ninety-four’s 
company would be able to effect the firebug’s re¬ 
lease, and it was a great disappointment to thus 
learn that nothing could be done save through the 
clemency of the judge; but, as he would have kept 
silent had it been himself who was in danger, he 
refrained from giving words to his sorrow. 

Understanding what was in his mind, ’Lish Davis 
added in a kindly tone; 


THE LETTER. 


2I 9 


“ Don’t take it to heart, Amateur, for we ’ll do 
all that is possible, and I ’m allowing it ’ll all come 
out straight in the end. It would n’t be well if he 
pulled through too easy.” 

If only he don’t have to go to jail for two or 
three years! ” Seth cried, and then fearing he 
might say that which would sound like a complaint, 
he took his leave after promising to report next 
evening. 

“ Well, I begun to think you was goin’ to stop 
there all night,” Master Roberts cried irritably 
when his partner appeared. “ Seemed like you 
was havin’ a mighty good time along at the first of 
it.” 

“ That was when I was tellin’ how I ’d been 
gettin’ on up at headquarters. Say, Jip will have 
to be tried in court! ” 

“ What ? Can’t Ninety-four’s men stop it ? ” Dan 
cried in surprise, for he had believed the firemen 
could do whatsoever they would, and Seth repeated 
all that ’Lish Davis had said, adding in conclu¬ 
sion : 

“ You ’d better try to see him again, an’ tell the 
poor fellow how things stand.” 

“ He ’ll take it mighty hard.” 

“I’m ’fraid so; but there’s nothin’ else that can 
be done. Is Bill over to the room ? ” 

“ He allowed he’d have to stop down-town quite 


220 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


a spell to-night, an’ I agreed to see him there after 
I ’d met you. Why not take a spin as far as the 
post-office ? ” 

Seth was not opposed to a stroll through the city, 
even though wearied by his labors of the day. 

His heart was so sore because it would be impos¬ 
sible for him to do anything in Jip’s behalf that he 
had no inclination to spend the time in his lodgings, 
where he could do nothing save dwell upon the 
painful situation of the boy who had tried to injure 
him. 

After a short time Dan succeeded in partially 
banishing his partner’s sorrowful thoughts by speak¬ 
ing of his own plans regarding the prospective store 
on Third Avenue, and broached the subject by pay¬ 
ing to Seth his share of the room-rent. 

Did you make all that to-day ? ” the amateur 
asked in surprise. 

“ Yes, an’ thirty-two cents more.” 

“ You must have humped yourself.” 

” That ’s jest what I did do. You see, if I count 
on ever ownin’ that store I ’ve got to work, same’s 
you did to get into the Department, an’ I never lost 
a minute this mornin’. I ’d made a big pile if it 
had n’t been for goin’ to see Jip. ” 

Then Dan pictured to his partner in words the 
establishment he intended one day to own, giving 
all the details with such exactness as to prove that 


THE LETTER . 


221 


he must have spent considerable time reflecting 
upon the matter. 

“ That ’s what I want,” he said as he concluded 
his description of the store; ** but when you come 
to think that I’ve only got thirty-two cents towards 
it, there don’t seem much chance I ’ll ever pull 
through.” 

” You ’ll have twice as much to-morrow night, 
an’ every day it ’ll keep on growin’ till in a little 
while you ’ll have a pile that ’ll make your eyes 
stick out. A feller can do pretty near what he 
counts on, if he sticks right at it.” 

“ You can bet I ’ll stick at the store part of it, 
though I ain’t certain as I ’d ever believed it could 
be done if you had n’t got into the Department. 
When you was runnin’ to fires like as if there might 
be big money in it, I counted it was foolishness; 
but now the thing looks different.” 

At this point the conversation was interrupted by 
Sam Barney, who suddenly appeared from around a 
corner much as if he had popped out with the pur¬ 
pose of frightening them. 

Seth would have passed the would-be detective 
without a word, for after what had been done he 
felt no desire to so much as speak with him; but 
now was the hour of Master Barney’s triumph, and 
he did not intend to lose any opportunity of sound¬ 
ing his own praises. 


222 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


“ Well,” he cried, stepping directly in front of 
the boys, “ what do you think now ’bout my bein’ 
a detective ? ” 

” If you are one, nobody knows it but yourself,” 
Dan replied angrily. 

** Did n’t I get Jip Collins arrested ? ” 

** Yes, an’ anybody might er done the same 
thing, without startin’ in by goin’ to Philadelphy. 
It seems you was n’t much of a detective when you 
figgered that he was over there.” 

” If you fellers had n’t been so smart with your 
railroad ticket I’d never gone, ’cause it did n’t take 
me very long to see how I ’d made a mistake 
in figgerin’, after I put my mind right down to 
it.” 

“ I notice you hung ’round here two days waitin’ 
for us to raise the money. Could n’t you find the 
mistake before then ? ” 

“ I did n’t try; but when I started in without 
bein’ mixed up with a crowd of duffers like you, I 
soon put the thing through.” 

“ Yes, it was big detective work to walk over to 
Thirty-fourth Street Ferry an’ find him.” 

“ I snaked him right out er a house where he 
was hidin’.” 

“ Then Denny Macey was the one who gave Jip 
away, an’ I ’ll have a settlement with that chump 
some day! ” Dan cried angrily. 


THE LETTER . 223 

Now for the first time Seth took part in the con¬ 
versation, by saying curtly to Sam: 

“ You 've got Jip in jail, an’ think it 's goin’ to 
be a big thing to brag about; but I don't believe 
you '11 make any great shakes out of it. Come on, 
Dan, we don't want to hang 'round here any 
longer." 

“ You 're feelin' mighty fine, Seth Bartlett, jest 
'cause you 're given the chance to loaf 'round the 
Fire Department headquarters an’ sweep the floors!" 
Sam cried angrily. " I s'pose you think you 're 
pretty nigh the only feller in this town ? " 

" Come ahead, Dan," and Seth would have 
passed on but that the would-be detective barred 
his way. 

" I don’t want any talk with you, Sam Barney, 
an’ what's more I won’t have any." 

" Won’t, eh ? Suppose I slap your face, how '11 
it be then ? " 

Instinctively Seth put himself in a posture of de¬ 
fence, and instantly afterward realized that he 
must not be accused of making a disturbance on 
the street lest it work to his harm in the Depart¬ 
ment. 

Then once again he would have passed Master 
Barney. 

The would-be detective was not brave save where 
he believed he had a decided advantage, and the 


224 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


fact that Seth seemed eager to avoid an encounter 
gave him great confidence in his own abilities. 

He stepped up menacingly, brandishing his fists 
directly under Seth’s nose, and Dan cried sharply 
to his partner: 

“ Why don’t you knock his head off ? ” 

“ He don’t dare to so much as raise his hands, 
except he’s up ’round Ninety-four’s house, where he 
thinks some of the firemen will back him!” Sam 
cried derisively as he redoubled his efforts to pro¬ 
voke the amateur. 

Seth’s cheeks were flaming red, and he clenched 
his fists until the knuckles were white, in the effort 
to restrain himself. 

If he had been alone there is every probability he 
might have forgotten his determination to avoid 
such encounters, for the would-be detective was 
doing all he could to provoke a quarrel; but Dan 
Roberts, understanding full well why his partner 
remained inactive when the temptation to strike at 
least one blow was very great, took it upon himself 
to put an end to the scene. 

Sam was standing directly in front of Seth, bran¬ 
dishing his fists, and indulging in such epithets as 

coward ” and “ sneak,” when Dan sprang forward 
suddenly, striking the bully a blow under the ear 
that sent him headlong into the gutter. 

Then, after looking quickly around to make cer- 


THE LETTER. 


225 


tain there were no policemen within ear-shot, he 
leaped upon the discomfited detective, seizing him 
by the coat-collar in such a manner that it was im¬ 
possible for Sam to raise his head. 

“ You ’re awful keen on havin’ a row, an’ I ’m 
goin’ to give you the chance! You knew Seth 
would n’t put up his hands, because he don’t count 
on havin’ any black marks against him when he goes 
into the Department; but I ain’t figgerin’ on any¬ 
thin’ of that kind, an’ can stand a little bit of a 
bad name for the sake of servin’ you out.” 

“ Come on, Dan, come on! Don’t make a row 
here, ’cause in the first place Sam Barney ain’t 
worth it, an’ then again you must n’t get up a name 
for fightin’.” 

“ I reckon that dressin’ this chump down won’t 
set me off very bad, an’ I ’m willin’ to take the 
risks. Now stand up and show what you can do! ” 
he added as he released his hold of the detective’s 
collar. 

Sam made no effort to rise, nor did he so much as 
reply. 

“You was terrible sharp for a row with Seth, 

’cause you counted on his not mixing up with sich 

as you. I ’m a good bit smaller than he is, an’ am 

ready to give you all the fightin’ that ’s wanted. 

Come on, and be funny same’s you was a minute 

ago.” 

is 


226 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ I ain’t got any row with you, Dan Roberts,” 
Sam muttered. 

“ What’s the reason you have n’t got as much of 
a one with me as you had with Seth ? We ’re part¬ 
ners, an’ he never said half the rough things about 
you that I have.” 

“ Leave me alone, or I ’ll yell for the perlice! ” 

” I thought you was n’t achin’ terrible bad for a 
fight,” and Dan flourished his fists precisely as Sam 
had done while trying to provoke Seth. ” Yell for 
the perlice, will yer ? I ’ve a precious good mind 
to give you a couple of black eyes, only that I hate 
to hit a feller who don’t dare to put up his hands.” 

“ Come on, Dan, don’t spend your time with 
him!” Seth cried. ” He won’t fight, an’ never 
would. There would n’t been any bluff made if he 
had n’t known I ’d promised myself not to get the 
name of bein’ a bruiser.” 

Dan did as his partner suggested, and the would- 
be detective remained quietly in the gutter until the 
two were half a block away, when he arose and cried 
vindictively: 

” I ’ll get square with you fellers yet! We ’ll see 
whether Seth Bartlett swells ’round headquarters 
much longer! ” 

” Don’t say a word,” Seth whispered as Dan half 
turned to make some reply. ” All he wants is to 
get me into a row, an’ it ’ll please the chump too 


THE LETTER . 


227 


well if we chin with him. I ’m sorry you lot your¬ 
self out.” 

I ain’t. I reckon that much of a fight won’t 
count very hard against the Third Avenoo store, for 
I ’ll earn jest as big a pile of money to-morrow as if 
I ’d let him make his bluff; but it might er been 
different with you.” 

Seth was by no means pleased with the outcome of 
this affair, although he did not say as much to his 
partner. 

It seemed as if he had acted a cowardly part in 
allowing Sam to insult him, and then remain passive 
while Dan took up the quarrel. 

He was positive he ought never to fight simply to 
please a bully, but equally confident that he was 
not manly to stand still while a fellow like Sam 
Barney imposed upon him. 

It was a matter which he could not settle satisfac¬ 
torily in his own mind, for whatever course he might 
have pursued seemed to be wrong. 

“ I ’ll see what Mr. Davis thinks about it,” he 
said to himself, and then added to Dan, ” It was 
mighty good of you, old man, to give Sam one clip 
for me; but I can’t make out whether I ought ’er 
stood still or put up my hands.” 

** Don’t bother your head about it,” Master 
Roberts replied carelessly. ” That chump detec¬ 
tive won’t fool ’round us any more, an’ we ’re well 


228 


AN AM A TE UR FIREMAN. 


rid of him. Of course he ’ll do a pile of blowin’ an’ 
tellin’ how he ’ll get square with us; but his talk 
ain’t anythin’ more ’n wind.” 

This assurance did not content Seth. Now his 
only desire was to go home; but Dan had no idea 
of curtailing his enjoyment because of the encoun¬ 
ter, therefore the amateur felt in duty bound to do 
as he wished. 

That night Jip’s friends were informed of what 
’Lish Davis had said, and while the majority re¬ 
gretted the necessity which kept Master Collins a 
prisoner, all agreed that perhaps it might not be 
well for him to escape the consequences of his act 
too easily. 

When Seth returned from headquarters on the 
following evening, with the report that Mr. Fernald 
had continued his instruction in gymnastics, he 
learned that Dan had, thanks to the lawyer em¬ 
ployed by Ninety-four’s men, been allowed to hold a 
long and private conversation with the prisoner. 

Jip was still very penitent, and declared he 
deserved all the punishment which the law might 
inflict upon him; but at the same time it could 
readily be seen, according to Master Roberts’s state¬ 
ment, that he was wonderfully relieved by the hope 
’Lish Davis held out. 

“ From what the lawyer told me,” Dan said when 
detailing to his partner all that had occurred during 


THE LETTER. 


229 


the interview, “ it ’ll be quite a spell before Jip 
comes up for trial, an’ so long as he stays in jail I 
can’t see but he ’s gettin’ the best of it. Three 
square meals every day, an’ at night a bed better ’n 
he’s had since he could remember.” 

But he ’s locked in, an’ that ’s what makes it 
hard to stand up under,” Seth suggested, where¬ 
upon Dan cried with no little warmth: 

I ’d be willin’ to let ’em lock me up nights for 
the sake of havin’ it as easy as it is for Jip. Nothin’ 
to do, an’ livin’ off the fat of the land.” 

I reckon after one day you ’d be willin’ to take 
less, an’ have a chance to go where you pleased,” 
Seth replied so emphatically that Master Roberts 
did not consider it wise to continue the argument. 

During the three days which followed the amateur 
fireman worked so hard to win the approval of his 
teacher that Mr. Fernald finally told him he was 
trying to do too much, and cut down his tasks 
nearly one half, an act which won for him the 
unqualified approval of Ninety-four’s crew. 

It was on the morning of the fifth day after Jip 
Collins’s arrest, and just as Josh Fernald was bring¬ 
ing Seth’s lesson to a conclusion, that one of the 
employes entered the gymnasium with a letter, and 
cried in a loud voice : 

“ Does anybody here know a fellow by the name 
of Seth Bartlett ? ” 


230 


AN AMATEUR FI REM A N. 


“ That ’s me,” the amateur replied after a mo¬ 
ment’s thought: “ but I don’t reckon I ’ve got a 
letter, ’cause there ’s nobody who ’d write to 
me.” 

“ Here’s what the address says,” and the young 
man held the envelope in such a manner that both 
the boy and his instructor could see the superscrip¬ 
tion : 

“ Seth Bartlett, fireman up at headquarters, New 
York.” 

Seth made no attempt to take the missive until 
Mr. Fernald asked quite sharply: 

“ Why don’t you take it ? There’s no other of 
that name here so far as I know.” 

“ I never had a letter, an’ it can’t be for me.” 

“You ’re the only Seth Bartlett in the building, 
and it must belong to you,” the messenger said im¬ 
patiently, whereat he threw the missive toward Seth 
and went his way. 

Not until Mr. Fernald had peremptorily ordered 
the boy to open the letter in order to see if it was 
intended for him, did the amateur as much as 
touch the soiled envelope; but after having torn it 
open the expression on his face told that the writer 
was not a stranger. 

This is what Seth read in ill-formed letters, many 
of them occupying the depth of two lines, some in 
written and others in printed characters: 


THE LETTER. 23 I 

“ Seth Bartlett, fireman up at headquarters. 
Deer Seth : 

“ Sam Barney struck this town the other day, an’ 
borrowed a dollar off er me. You know my folks 
stopped here on the way to Baltimore, an’ I ’ve 
been tryin’ to earn a little money so’s to see me 
threw. I’m in Philadelphy, an’ Sam cum over here 
with a big stiff ’bout how you an’ Bill Dean had 
cent him to hunt for Jip Collins. He was broke an’ 
ced if I ’d let him have money enuf to git home 
you or Bill would pay it back. It’s been most a 
week sence he was here an’ I ain’t heard from you. 
Why don’t you send the good dollar I put up to 
help you along. I ’m livin’ at 1451 1/2 Filbert 
Street an’ want my stuff. 

“ Yours till deth shal part us, 

“Joe Carter.’’ 

“ So the letter is for you, even though you never 
received one before?’’ Mr. Fernald quietly re¬ 
marked as Seth, having read the lines after con¬ 
siderable difficulty, refolded the paper and returned 
it to the envelope. 

“ Yes, sir, an’ it ’s from a feller in Philadel¬ 
phy. I don’t reckon you know who Jip Collins 
is; but this has got somethin’ to do with his busi¬ 
ness.’’ 

As he spoke Seth unfolded the paper and handed 
it to his instructor, who, after deciphering it, quite 
naturally asked for an explanation. 

“ If you owe this boy money, send it to him at 


232 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


once, for people who do not pay their bills are in 
bad odor up here/’ 

“ I never borrowed a cent of him,” Seth cried in¬ 
dignantly, and then he told Mr. Fernald the whole 
story. 

The old instructor appeared to be amused by the 
recital, and when it was concluded asked if Seth 
wanted leave of absence to straighten the matter out. 

“ I ’ll have plenty of time after leaving here to¬ 
night ; but what bothers me is that I may have a 
row with Sam Barney, ’cause I ain’t goin’ to let him 
swell ’round borrowin’ money on my account.” 

** And in that you are perfectly right, my boy.” 

” He knows I don’t dare to fight on the street, 
’cause it may give me a black mark in the Depart¬ 
ment, an’ that would never do, so I reckon he ’ll be 
mighty lippy ’bout it.” 

” Ask ’Lish Davis! I can’t recommend you to 
create a disturbance, and yet it seems hard you 
should be imposed upon because of the situation. 
Whatever the driver of Ninety-four advises, you may 
do without fear of the consequences, for there is n’t 
a more level-headed man in the Department, and 
it ’s only his lack of education that has prevented 
him from rising in the service.” 

I ’ll see him to-night,” Seth replied as he put 
the letter in his pocket, and then without further 
delay he set about his regular duties, 


CHAPTER XIV. 


THE SUBPOENA. 

IMPATIENT though Seth was to talk with ’Lish 
A Davis and his roommates concerning what had 
been done by Sam Barney in the matter of borrow¬ 
ing money on the account of others, he made no 
attempt to leave headquarters a single moment 
earlier than usual. 

When the hours of labor had come to an end, 
however, he did not linger, and with a cheery 
“ good-night ” to Mr. Fernald, for by this time the 
teacher and his pupil were on excellent terms, he 
set off at full speed for Ninety-four’s house. 

Unless they were out on duty, this particular 
company, since Seth went to work at headquarters, 
could always be found on the lower floor of the 
building at about six o’clock in the evening awaiting 
the arrival of “ their kid,” and here Master Bartlett 
found them. 

From the expression on his face all hands under¬ 
stood that something unpleasant had occurred, and 
’Lish Davis asked in a tone of anxiety: 

233 


234 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN 


“ What’s gone wrong, Amateur ? Have n’t been 
getting into trouble with Josh, I hope ? ” 

“ Mr. Fernald is mighty kind to me; he says I 
shall go in the yard next week for half an hour each 
day, an’ then you know I ’ll have a great chance to 
pick up points.” 

” Once he starts you in there the road is pretty 
straight up to a job in the Department. You look 
so kind-er peaked I was afraid something had gone 
wrong.” 

” Read that, an’ then I reckon you ’ll think some¬ 
thin’ has gone wrong! ” Seth exclaimed as he gave 
the driver Joe Carter’s letter, unfolding the sheet 
that there might be no needless time spent in 
mastering its contents. 

Read it aloud, ’Lish,” Jerry Walters cried, and 
the driver glanced toward Seth as if asking permis¬ 
sion to do so. 

Go ahead, Mr. Davis. Of course everybody 
belongin’ to this company has a right to know all 
about my business.” 

Davis did as he was requested, reading slowly as 
if enjoying the matter hugely, and interrupted now 
and then by exclamations of surprise or amusement 
from his comrades. 

“ Well, what do you think of it ? ” Seth asked 
angrily when the driver, having come to the end, 
remained silent, 


THE SUBPOENA. 


235 


It begins to look as if your friend the detective 
could manage to take care of himself by hook or by 
crook. I can’t see that either you or Bill Dean is 
bound by any such a transaction, unless you gave 
Sam permission to borrow money on your account.” 

Of course we was n’t such fools as to do that! 
It ’s a reg’lar swindle, that ’s what it is, an’ if I ’d 
known ’bout it when Dan and me met him down¬ 
town, I ’m ’fraid I ’d punched his head, even if it 
would be fightin’ on the street! ” 

“What ’s that?” Mr. Davis asked sharply. 
“Something been going on that we have n’t heard? ” 
I counted on tellin’ you; but it seems as if 
there ’s always a bother to talk ’bout, so I waited 
a spell.” 

Then Seth gave a detailed account of the encoun¬ 
ter with the would-be detective, and when he had 
concluded the tecital ’Lish Davis looked around at 
his companions as if waiting to hear their comments 
before he expressed an opinion. 

“You ought ’er lit right out on him,” Jerry Wal¬ 
ters cried warmly. “ He thinks you won’t fight, 
an’ will keep on makin’ trouble for you till he learns 
that it ain’t safe.” 

“ Don’t listen to such advice, Seth,” the captain 
added quickly. “ You did perfectly right, and are 
to be praised for it, more particularly since the 
temptation must have been very great.” 


236 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Then the men began what finally grew into a 
heated discussion, as to how the boy should have 
acted under such provoking circumstances, and not 
until it was brought to a close did ’Lish Davis give 
his opinion. 

“I’m allowing that you can’t afford to raise a 
brawl, Amateur,’’ he said, deliberately. “ If that 
imitation detective ’mounted to anything the case 
might be different, and though I ’m free to say that 
every man or boy should defend himself when it ’s 
necessary, there’s no wisdom in raising a disturb¬ 
ance while it ’s possible to walk on. The trouble is 
that too many of us are apt to think we can’t get 
away from what appears to be a bad scrape without 
coming to blows; but in nine cases out of ten that 
is n’t the truth.’’ 

“ But what am I to do ’bout this money he bor¬ 
rowed from Joe Carter ? ’’ Seth asked as the driver 
ceased speaking. 

“ I can’t see that you ’ve got any call to disturb 
yourself. Write and tell the boy in Philadelphia 
that the imitation detective had no authority to bor¬ 
row money in your name, and let that settle it.’’ 

This did not appear to Seth the proper course, 
for he felt that he was in a certain sense bound to 
prevent Joe Carter from losing anything by being 
thus confiding; but yet he would not have ques¬ 
tioned the driver’s decision. 


THE SUBPCENA . 


237 


It 's mighty aggravating, Amateur, I'm free to 
confess,” 'Lish Davis added as he noted the expres¬ 
sion on the boy's face; “ but you must remember 
that the poorest way to settle a difficulty is by 
fighting. When you 're where it's got to be done 
in order to save yourself from being hurt or robbed, 
then put up your hands like a man, first making cer¬ 
tain there's no other way out. If it 's all the same 
to you, I 'm counting on toddling down to Tenth 
Street to-night.” 

Do you mean that I 'm goin’ to school now ? ” 
I reckon the time has come when you may as 
well begin. Jerry Walters and me have made the 
trade, so after you 've slicked up a bit, drop in here 
and we ’ll start.” 

” All right, sir,” Seth cried as he hurried away to 
make ready for what he knew must be a trying 
ordeal. He understood that he was remarkably 
ignorant for one of his years, and had an idea that 
every pupil in the school would make sport of 
him. 

When the amateur fireman arrived at his lodgings 
he found his roommates awaiting him, and in the 
fewest possible words made known Sam Barney's 
misdemeanor, producing Joe Carter's letter in proof 
of his assertion. 

It can well be imagined that both the boys were 
angry and surprised by the information, and Bill 


238 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

insisted that all three set out at once in search of 
the offender. 

“ I ’ve got to start in on school to-night, an’ so I 
can’t go,” Seth replied mournfully. 

“ How long are you goin’ to keep up sich a racket 
as that ? ” Dan asked, as if personally aggrieved be¬ 
cause such a course was to be pursued. 

** ’Cordin’ to the way Mr. Davis talks I ’ll have 
to stick at it till I ’m a reg’lar fireman, an’ perhaps 
a good bit after that.” 

“ Then I’d give up tryin’ to get into the Depart¬ 
ment! ” Master Roberts replied emphatically. ” I 
would n’t do all that funny business if I never 
’mounted to anythin’ more ’n a bootblack! ” 

” It ’s jest what you ought ’er do, Dan, if you 
ever expect to own that Third Avenoo store.” 

” I ’d like to know why ? ” 

Now, that ’s a foolish question. S’posen you 
got the shop this very minute, an’ wanted to write 
a letter, or figger up how much anythin’ cost ? 
What kind of a fist would you make of it ? ” 

Dan did not reply, but changed the subject of 
conversation by asking Bill: 

“ What er you goin’ to do ’bout Sam Barney ?” 

” You an’ me will hunt him up, an’ by the time 
we ’re through with the chump he won’t borrow 
money in sich a way ag’in, I reckon. Who ’ll write 
to Joe Carter ’bout it ? ” 


THE SUBPOENA. 


239 


“ If Seth is goin’ to school he ought ’er do that 
much, ’cause it ’ll come right in his line of busi¬ 
ness.” 

I ’ll do the best I can at it,” the amateur fire¬ 
man replied readily, and added as his friends turned 
to leave the room. “Now, don’t have a reg’lar row 
with that chump. It ’ll be enough if you show him 
up to all the fellers as a reg’lar fraud, and then you 
won’t stand any chance of gettin’ into trouble with 
the perlice.” 

We ’ll ’tend to the business in proper shape,” 
Bill replied in a meaning tone, and Seth was not 
sadly disturbed in mind as he understood, or thought 
he did, that Sam Barney would spend a very un¬ 
pleasant evening if these two acquaintances chanced 
to meet him. 

When he was alone Seth set about making prep¬ 
arations for beginning his pursuit of knowledge, 
and the prospect before him was by no means 
pleasant. 

’Lish Davis was awaiting his arrival when he re¬ 
entered the engine-house, and immediately began 
laughing heartily at the expression on the boy’s face. 

“ It ain’t going to be half as bad as you ’re 
counting on, Amateur,” the driver cried as soon'as 
he could control his mirth, and then the two set 
out. 

Mr. Davis had but one remark of importance to 


240 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


make during the journey, and that impressed Seth 
more than anything which had been said to him 
that day. 

“ If I ’d spent half or even a quarter of my spare 
time while I was a boy, in study, instead of being 
only the driver of Ninety-four, I might be her captain 
at the very least. You may have got it into your 
head that firemen don’t know anything except how 
to use an axe or handle hose; but it ’s a big mis¬ 
take. If you want to keep on rising in the Depart¬ 
ment, you ’ve got to have more book-learning than 
I was willing to get.” 

When they arrived at the school, ’Lish did not 
spend very much time in introducing his protegt. 

“ Here’s the kid I was telling you about,” he 
said, and then Seth was left to fight his own battle. 

That going to school was not as hard as he had 
fancied was known at the engine-house when the 
amateur returned shortly after nine o’clock, for 
then he said with an air of relief: 

” I ain’t so certain but that I ’ll like it, after I 
kind-er get the hang of things.” 

“ Course you will, Amateur, course you will; but 
it’s bound to be hard work, and there don’t seem to 
be much chance for play in your life the way we’ve 
mapped it out for you. All hands of us have been 
figgering how we’d kind-er let up on you, and it’s 
been decided that you shall sleep here every Satur- 


THE SUBPGENA. 


241 


day night. What calls come in ’twixt the ending of 
the school business and midnight, you ’re to answer 
as if belonging reg’larly to the company.” 

Seth’s eyes glistened with delight, and when he 
had gone to his room the driver said in a tone of 
satisfaction to his comrades : 

“ That kid is bound to make his mark in the De¬ 
partment some day, and we ’ll be patting ourselves 
on the head for having given him a show. Just 
think of a boy like him being tickled way up in G 
when you give him a chance to work at a fire! He 
was reg’larly born for the business.” 

When Seth arrived at Mrs. Hanson’s he found his 
roommates awaiting his arrival. 

“ Did n’t you find Sam ?” he asked in surprise 
that they should have returned so soon. 

“ That ’s what we did; met him down by the 
post-office where there was a whole crowd of the 
fellers, an' by this time I reckon he don’t think 
he’s a terrible big man.” 

“ What did he say ’bout givin’ Joe Carter sich a 

•s 9 } 

yarn ? 

“ First off he tried to say it was n’t so; but when 
we flashed up the letter, it was all over, an’ the 
chump could n’t so much as yip, ’cept to promise 
to pay the bill with the very first money he could 
scrape together.” 

“ Then you did n’t have any row ? ” 

16 


242 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ Not a bit of it.’ 

“ I was ’fraid you might thump him, an’ the per- 
lice would jump in.” 

“ We did n’t reckon on bein’ jugged jest ’cause of 
him,” Bill replied, quietly. “ Instead of fightin’, 
Dan jest shoved him inside the post-office quick¬ 
like, an’ I let him have a couple of mighty good 
clips alongside the head. When he yelled, we lit 
out an’ come up here. If it had n’t been that 
you ’re tryin’ so hard to get into the Department, 
we might er had a row with the duffer; but seein’s 
anythin’ of the kind would give you a black eye, we 
kept quiet.” 

Dan and Master Dean both appeared to think 
they deserved praise for having been so cautious, 
and Seth did not believe it would be wise to re¬ 
proach them for what had been done. 

After this affair there was nothing out of the 
ordinary in Seth’s life for ten days or more, except 
during the two Saturday nights he slept at Ninety- 
four’s house, where on each occasion it was his good 
fortune to go out with the engine. 

At headquarters Mr. Fernald pushed him along 
in the drill as rapidly as possible, and he was allowed 
to devote considerably more than two hours each 
day to the lessons. 

At school he made as much advancement as could 
have been expected, and really came to look forward 


THE SUBPCENA. 


243 


with pleasure upon his tasks there, for ’Lish Davis’s 
remark as to the value of an education had not been 
forgotten. 

Then came the day when he was summoned from 
the yard where he had been taking part in a drill 
with ladders, to meet a stranger who handed him a 
printed document, the meaning of which he failed 
to understand until Mr. Fernald explained that it 
was a subpoena, or, in other words, a command for 
him to appear in court on the following morning to 
give evidence in the case of the State vs. Jipson 
Collins. 

The officer who brought the summons stated that 
he had served a similar document upon Dan Roberts 
a few hours previous, and cautioned Seth against 
failing to obey. 

“ I reckon they ’ll have to get along without me, 
’cause I can’t leave here,” he replied, as if believing 
such an excuse must be accepted by any fair-minded 
judge. 

Then it was Mr. Fernald explained the nature of 
a subpoena, and Seth was decidedly surprised at 
learning that he could, and probably would, be 
arrested if he refused to obey. 

“ There is no need of your coming here at all to¬ 
morrow,” the old man said, “ no matter how early 
you may get out of court. You ’re needing a holiday, 
lad, and I’m glad of an excuse for givingyou one.” 


244 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


Not until he returned from school that evening 
did Seth see his roommates, and then he found 
them in a high state of excitement because of the 
approaching trial. 

“ Mr. Davis says he shall be there, an’ the lawyer 
is to ’tend right out so’s to say a good word for 
poor Jip when the time comes,” Seth hastened to 
state, and from that moment until it seemed abso¬ 
lutely necessary they should retire, the boys dis¬ 
cussed the probable fate of the firebug. 

Next morning when Seth went to the engine- 
house to perform his customary task of blacking the 
men’s boots, Dan set out with him, saying as they 
left Mrs. Hanson’s: 

“If it was n’t for that Third Avenoo store I 
would n’t go down-town to-day, till it was time for 
the trial to begin; but I can’t lose a whole mornin’s 
work.” 

“ That’s the way to stick at it! ” Seth cried ap¬ 
provingly. “ How much money have you got laid 
up ?” 

“ Three dollars an’ five cents. Oh, I’m gettin’ 
there, old man, though ’cordin’ to the way things 
are workin’ it ’ll take quite a spell.” 

“You ’ll strike a rush some day, an’ then it ’ll 
pile up in great shape. Stick at it, Dan.” 

“ That ’s what I ’m reckonin’ on doin’, an’ say, 
Seth, if it don’t cost too much, I’m goin’ to ’tend 


THE SUBPCENA. 


245 


out on school, same’s you do. Bill has ’greed to 
come into the snap, an’ we ’ll make it lively all 
’round.” 

“ It won’t cost you a cent; Mr. Davis says so.” 

“ Then we ’ll begin to-night, but I don’t want the 
fellers to know about it, ’cause they’d set up sich a 
terrible howl.” 

Dan did not waste any more time in conversation, 
but hurried away to take advantage of the early de¬ 
mand for papers, and ’Lish Davis said sagely when 
Seth had repeated the conversation to him: 

Now you can see the result of a good example, 
Amateur. If you had kicked against going to school, 
your room-mates never’d thought of trying the same 
game, and so by helping yourself you’ve gone a long 
way towards helping others. Contrariwise, if you’d 
been cutting ’round town, raising rows and getting 
into all kinds of trouble, you’d find them as would 
follow in your track, so it’s a pretty sure thing that 
a boy is bound to walk straight because of the effect 
it ’ll have on others, even if for no other reason.” 

Seth made no reply to this brief lecture; he was 
learning very much of life through his intercourse 
with Ninety-four’s men, and it seemed to him as if 
each day some new idea regarding a boy’s work was 
to be gained. 

“ Your firebug has his chance this forenoon, eh?” 
’Lish asked after a short pause. 


246 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

“ Yes, sir, an’ I ’m hopin’ mighty hard that he ’ll 
get off this time.” 

“ I reckon a good deal depends on you and your 
partner.” 

“ How do you mean ? ” 

“ If the firebug pleads guilty as his lawyer has 
advised him to, the judge will only call on you two 
witnesses to tell how it happened, so’s he can get 
an idea of about how hard Jip ought ’er be punished. ” 

“ Then if we talk smooth he stands a better 
chance, eh ? ” 

“ That’s ’bout the size of it, Amateur.” 

During the remainder of the time he spent in 
Ninety-four’s quarters Seth was unusually thought¬ 
ful, and immediately his work was finished he asked 
the driver if there was any objection to his going 
down-town. 

“ Now see here, Amateur, there’s no call for you 
to come ’round me with a question like that. I ’m 
only too glad you’ve got a chance to get a holiday, 
and I advise you to spend all the time, till the hour 
for school, among your old chums. I don’t reckon 
you’ve got any big pile of money left by this time, 
eh ?” 

“ Well, I don’t need a cent, ’cept for my rent, 
an’ that ain’t costin’ such a terrible pile.” 

“ Have you got enough to buy your breakfast 
with ? ” 


THE SUBPCENA. 


247 


I 'll get whatever I need.” 

See here, Amateur, how much money have you 
on hand ? ” ’Lish asked so sternly that Seth could 
no longer evade the question. 

** Well, I ’m broke; but there ’s no need of my 
havin' a single cent. I ain’t doin’ much swellin’ 
lately.” 

“ Take this,” and the driver thrust a dollar 
in Seth’s hands. ” I ain’t giving it to you, so 
there’s no call to kick. You ’ve got to borrow 
it, or go hungry, and that I ’m not minded you 
shall do.” 

" I have n’t done anything of the kind yet a 
while,” the Amateur replied, with a hearty laugh, 
and then he began to speak of Jip once more lest 
’Lish Davis might take it into his head to ask how 
long he had thus been penniless, for it was nearly 
a week since he had so much as a nickel in his 
pocket. 

“ I ’ll pay back the dollar as soon as I get my 
month’s wages,” he said, as, his work finished, he 
made ready to go down-town, and the driver replied 
cheerily: 

” I ’m counting on it, Amateur, and I ’m also 
reckoning that you ’ll come to me again when that’s 
gone, else you and me will have a settling that 
won’t be pleasant to one of us.” 

Then Seth started down-town with a smile on 


24S 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


his face, as he repeated again and again to him¬ 
self: 

“ Folks are mighty good to me, mighty good! ” 

When he arrived in that locality where he form¬ 
erly transacted business, his old friends welcomed 
him heartily, and every one who claimed the slight¬ 
est acquaintance had a great many questions to ask 
concerning his position at headquarters. 

Not until nearly the hour set for the witnesses to 
be at court did Seth find an opportunity of speaking 
privately with his partner, and then he repeated 
what ’Lish Davis had said as to the possible effect 
their evidence might have in the case. 

“ We must be careful to tell the truth, Dan; but 
there’s no need of our rubbin’ it in very bad.” 

That ’ll be all right,” Master Roberts replied 
confidently. “ Jest wait till the judge begins to 
pump me, an’ you ’ll see how slick I ’ll make it for 
ji P .” 

“ Don’t put it on too thick.” 

See here, Seth, I reckon I know how to run 
this thing. Don’t you worry ’bout me; but be 
kind-er thinkin’ up what you ’ll say.” 

I don’t s’pose we ’ll have a chance for anything 
’cept to answer questions.” 

“I ’ll bet I can sneak in a good word now an’ 
then, never mind how hard they try to stop me. 
Say, have you seen Sam Barney ? ” 


THE SUBPCENA. 


249 


“ No; is he goin’ to the court ?” 

’Cordin’ to the way he’s been swellin’ hisself 
out this mornin’ you ’d think he was countin’ on 
runnin’ the whole thing. He told some of the fel¬ 
lers that the trial would n’t begin if he was n’t 
there, ’cause he’s the only one who can send Jip up 
the river. Bill wanted me to go in with him for 
usin’ the chump so rough he could n’t more ’n 
crawl, an’ that would fix things for Jip; but I was 
’fraid it might make talk in the court so’s you ’d 
get the worst of it.” 

It ’s better to let him alone, though I ’m awful 
sorry he’s so set on this detective business, ’cause 
if it had n’t been for that, Jip never’d been ’rested.” 

At this moment Bill Dean joined his friends with 
the information that the would-be detective had 
already started for the court-room, and proposed 
that they set out at once. 

“I’m goin’ to get a seat close to that duffer, an’ 
let him know he ’ll get his face into trouble if he 
tells any more ’n is called for. I wonder why he 
could n’t be yanked up for lyin’ to Joe Carter when 
he borrowed that money ? If he should have a dose 
of it in jail, I reckon he would n’t be so hot to see 
Jip sent up.” 

Dan was uncertain whether a charge might not 
have been brought against the would-be detective 
because of what he had done in Philadelphia, but 


250 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


dismissed the matter without very much study, on 
the ground that it was now too late to render such 
a course of advantage to the firebug. 

Then the three, followed or accompanied by 
nearly all their acquaintances, went toward the 
court-room. 




CHAPTER XV. 


THE TRIAL. 


HE door-keeper of the court attempted to check 



A the rush which began with the entrance of 
Seth, Dan, and Bill; but it was impossible because 
of his delay. 

He had at first objected to admitting the amateur 
fireman and his partner, but they speedily proved 
they were entitled to enter, by producing the 
subpoenas, and as he stepped aside for them to go 
in, the following came on with a rush as powerful 
as it was unexpected. 

The official would have swept down upon the 
offenders and literally dragged them out, but that 
’Lish Davis, who was standing just inside the door, 
said with a laugh: 

“ I don’t reckon you ’ve got time to sort ’em, 
Mr. Officer. A kid is to be tried for arson this 
morning, and more ’n likely as not half the crowd 
has been summoned as witnesses, for it ’s only 
through his acquaintances that anything can be 
proven.” 

The door-keeper looked for an instant at the 


252 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


buzzing throng which had settled down upon the 
front seats, and, understanding what a difficult 
task he might be setting himself, evidently decided 
that Mr. Davis was in the right. 

Sam Barney already sat on the front row of seats 
allotted to spectators when Mrs. Hanson's lodgers 
entered, and although Seth would have been better 
pleased to remain at a greater distance from the 
would-be detective, Bill Dean forced him along 
until they were directly behind Jip’s enemy. 

“ Don’t speak to him,” Seth whispered. ** I ’m 
sorry we’re so near the duffer.” 

” It’s jest where I counted on gettin’,” Bill re¬ 
plied, in a tone of satisfaction. ” I won’t have 
any row with the chump, but only shake him up 
a bit.” 

“If we make any noise, all hands will be fired 
out.” 

“ Watch an’ see how quiet I ’ll be,” Master 
Dean replied, and then before his companion could 
check him, he had leaned over and whispered in 
Sam’s ear: ” Be mighty careful you tell the truth 
in this court, or I ’ll let out to the judge what you 
did in Philadelphy, an’ then perhaps Jip Collins 
won’t be the only prisoner ’round here.” 

Master Barney turned quickly, and an expression 
of disquiet came over his face as he saw who were 
directly behind him. 


THE TRIAL. 


253 


He did not venture to make any remark, nor did 
Bill think it wise to repeat the threat; but he 
shook his fist warningly, which served the same 
purpose. 

“ Be quiet,” Seth whispered imploringly. “ It 
would be terrible if we got into a row here, for Mr. 
Davis is standing close by the door watchin’ us.” 

I won’t do a thing till we get outside, unless it 
happens that I have to tell the judge ’bout Sam’s 
borrowin’ that money,” Master Dean replied in a 
tone sufficiently loud to be heard by the alleged 
detective. 

Then the attention of all the sidewalk merchants 
was attracted to the opposite side of the room by 
Dan Roberts, who whispered loudly, pointing with 
outstretched finger: 

” There he is! There ’s Jip! ” 

The prisoner was being led in by a burly police¬ 
man, who kept a firm hold on the boy’s collar as if 
fearful he might make some desperate attempt at 
escape, and there was not a person in the court¬ 
room, with the probable exception of Sam Barney, 
who failed to feel a certain sympathy for the fright¬ 
ened lad. 

” That’s his lawyer—the little feller with the big 
nose,” Dan whispered so loudly that not only his 
friends in the immediate vicinity, but all the attor¬ 
neys within the enclosure, set apart for their especial 


254 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


use, heard the words, and much merriment ensued, 
during which the cause of it looked around in sur¬ 
prise, unable to discover the meaning of it. 

Seth and Dan, who had never before attended 
the trial of a prisoner, expected there would be con¬ 
siderable ceremony, in which policemen would play 
a prominent part; therefore the case was begun and 
gone on with to some extent before they were aware 
of the fact. 

It is true they saw Jip Collins standing up while 
the clerk read from a paper a quantity of words 
which had no meaning to them, and after a time, 
the prisoner was allowed to sit down again. 

Then the “ little man with the big nose ** talked 
to the judge as if confiding in him some secret, 
after which the clerk called loudly: 

“ Daniel Roberts! Daniel Roberts! ” 

Seth’s partner gazed about him curiously, never 
once thinking the clerk referred to him, until ’Lish 
Davis, coming swiftly down from his station near the 
door, leaned over and pinched Dan’s ear as he asked : 

“ Why don’t you answer to your name ? ” 

“ Is it me they mean ? ” Dan asked, and at that 
instant the clerk repeated the call. 

Dan looked about him in perplexity, uncertain as 
to what he should do, until ’Lish reached over to 
seize him by the collar, when he cried in a shrill 
voice: 


THE TRIAL. 


255 


Here I be, Mister! ” 

“ Come forward to the witness-stand/’ the official 
said sharply, while the spectators laughed heartily. 

It was several moments before Master Roberts 
could be made to understand exactly where he 
should go, and then, assisted by ’Lish Davis and 
the clerk, he finally gained the stand, where he 
stood gazing around with the most friendly expres¬ 
sion on his face. 

For some reason no question was asked immedi¬ 
ately, and after waiting two or three moments, Dan, 
believing the judge was ready to hear his story, 
began earnestly: 

“You see, it ’s jest this way: J ip, he did n’t 
count on doin’ anything off color, an’ if it had n’t 
been for Sam Barney-’’ 

“ Silence in the court! ’’ the crier called, and Dan 
looked up in surprise at being interrupted so soon. 

He did n’t reckon on bein’-’’ 

Dan stopped again as the same voice called loudly 
for silence in the court, and then the attorney 
employed to defend Jip explained matters by 
saying: 

“ You must wait until you are questioned, Daniel. 
There will be ample opportunity to give your evi¬ 
dence. ” 

“ Dan ain’t goin’ to let any chance slip him,’’ 
Bill Dean whispered confidentially to Seth, and Sam 




256 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Barney said in a tone sufficiently loud to be heard 
by those immediately behind him: 

“ He ’s a reg’lar chump, else he ’d know enough 
to behave hisself on the witness-stand.” 

” He ’ll behave himself outside on the sidewalk in 
a way you won’t like if you shoot off your mouth 
too much,” Bill whispered, and Seth shook his 
friend’s arm warningly lest he disturb the court by 
his threats. 

’Lish Davis evidently saw that there was bad 
blood between the alleged detective and Seth’s 
room-mate, and at once forced the boys on the 
front seat to move nearer together until he had room 
to sit where he could keep all of them under his eye, 
a proceeding which caused the amateur fireman great 
relief of mind. 

After what seemed like a long time in waiting, 
Jip’s attorney asked the witness: 

“ What is your name ? ” 

Dan appeared surprised at such a question, and 
after some slight hesitation replied: 

“ Why, I ’m the feller you told to come here. 
Did n’t you hear the man call my name ? This is 
where they said I was to stand.” 

The judge rapped smartly on the desk in front of 
him, and Dan turned quickly to see what had hap¬ 
pened. 

“ Answer properly the questions asked of you!” 


THE TRIAL. 


25 ; 


“ That ’s what-” 

The attorney interrupted him by asking as before: 

** What is your name ? ” 

It ’s Dan Roberts, of course, an’ I was-” 

“ Are you acquainted with the prisoner ? ” 

“ Do you mean Jip ? Why, of course I am; him 
an’ me used to work together when he lived with 
Seth Bartlett-” 

“ Answer only the questions asked of you! ” the 
judge said sternly, and for the instant Dan was 
abashed; but quickly recovered himself as he re¬ 
membered what Seth had said regarding the possi¬ 
bility of aiding Jip by his evidence. 

“ Where were you when he set fire to the shed in 
Baxter’s lumber-yard ? ” 

“ Now, see here, mister, Jip never ’d done 
that-” 

“ Where were you ? ” the attorney repeated, 
speaking so sharply that for the moment Dan was 
startled. 

“ Why, in the shed, of course, we-” 

“ Had you heard the prisoner threaten to set fire 
to the shed ? ” 

“ He did n’t mean a word of it; did you, Jip ? 
He was-” 

“ Unless you answer the questions which are 
asked, and in a proper manner, we shall find some 
means of punishing you,” the judge said sternly, 






258 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN 


and Jip’s attorney whispered a few words in the ear 
of the witness, which had the effect of checking him 
for the time being. 

He was questioned regarding what he had heard 
Jip say as to burning the shed; how many times 
such threat had been repeated in his presence, and 
what the prisoner had told concerning the crime 
after it had been committed. 

It was the last question which set loose the flood¬ 
gates of his speech, and, regardless of the judge's 
warnings or the attorney's nervous gestures, he 
said, speaking rapidly in order that all might be 
told before they should check him: 

“ Jip, he was awful sorry 'cause he'd done it, an' 
said he 'd square things if we 'd let him. He 
would n't even put up his hands when I was goin’ 
to thump him, an' if Sam Barney had n’t wanted to 
show hisself off for a detective there would n’t been 
any fuss like this. What does he know 'bout bein’ 
a detective ? Why, I would n’t-" 

By this time the court officials managed to stop 
the flow of words; but not before he had shaken his 
fist in the direction of Sam, and caused even the 
judge to smile. 

“You may step down,’’ the clerk said, after order 
had been restored, and Dan asked innocently: 

“ Ain’t you goin’ to give me a chance to——’’ 

“Step down!’’ was the stern command, and 



THE TRIAL. 259 

Master Roberts was forced to obey, much to his 
displeasure. 

“I ’ll bet I ’d fix things if they ’d give me a 
chance,” he whispered to Seth as he took his seat; 

but that lawyer ’Lish Davis hired don’t ’mount to 
a row of pins.” 

Then the amateur fireman’s name was called, and 
he proved a more satisfactory witness to all con¬ 
cerned than had Master Roberts. 

He replied briefly to the questions, and when the 
examination was ended the judge asked how Jip had 
behaved after the crime was committed. 

Then it was that Seth had an opportunity of tell¬ 
ing how penitent the firebug had appeared to be; 
how eager he was to do all in his power toward re¬ 
pairing the wrong, and declared he did not believe 
the prisoner would “ go crooked again.” 

’Lish Davis next went on the stand, and although 
he could not swear to Jip’s repentance, he testified 
that the prisoner himself had sent in the alarm, and 
succeeded in saying many a good word for the 
boy. 

“ That driver is a dandy! ” Dan whispered ap¬ 
provingly. “ I wish the lawyer was half as good.” 

Master Roberts was better satisfied with the attor¬ 
ney a short time later, when he made a plea that 
sentence be suspended on the prisoner, who had 
promptly confessed his guilt, and even at the EBP- 


26 o 


AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN. 


ment when the crime had been committed did all in 
his power to repair the mischief. 

Then two or three others had something to 
say; but they appeared to be talking privately with 
the judge, rather than conducting the case, and to 
the great surprise of all the small spectators Sam 
Barney was not called to the witness-stand. 

The fact that he had compassed the arrest of the 
prisoner was not even mentioned, much to the de¬ 
light of Dan and Bill Dean, each of whom leaned 
forward from time to time to ask in a cautious whis¬ 
per as to when the “ big detective work was goin’ 
to be showed up ? ” 

After a time it seemed to those in the front 
seats as if the prisoner had been forgotten by 
the court, for nothing was said to or about him, 
and Bill was on the point of asking Seth if the 
trial was concluded, when the judge ordered Jip to 
stand up. 

Then he lectured him severely on the crime of 
arson, explained how many years of his life would 
be spent in prison if the provisions of the law were 
carried out to their fullest extent, and finally an¬ 
nounced that sentence would be suspended during 
good behavior. 

At this point ’Lish Davis left the court-room as 
if he no longer had any interest in the proceedings, 
and after a certain time the attorney led Jip out of 



THE TRIAL. 


261 


the building, the latter’s acquaintances following in 
a body. 

Is it all over ? ” Dan cried, seizing the attorney 
by the arm in order to hold his attention, and be¬ 
fore the gentleman could speak, Sam Barney cried 
vindictively: 

“ You can bet it ain’t all over! I ’ve been bun¬ 
coed by a lot of cheap firemen, an’ don’t count on 
holdin’ my tongue. You ’ll see Jip Collins in jail 
again before he ’s a day older,” 

“ Yes, it is all over,” the attorney said in reply to 
Dan’s question. “ So long as Jip behaves himself, 
nothing more will be done; but if he should go 
wrong, sentence for this crime will be pronounced, 
and most likely he will be given the extreme pen¬ 
alty.” 

“ Can Sam Barney have him arrested? ” Dan asked. 

“ No one can trouble him on this charge while he 
lives an honest life.” 

” Then I ’ll see that that duffer holds his tongue!” 
and Bill started toward the would-be detective in a 
threatening manner; but the latter was not minded 
to take any chances of an encounter. 

He turned and fled instantly Bill made the ad¬ 
vance, and did not halt until he was half a block or 
more away, when he shouted: 

“ Wait an’ see what I ’ll do to all you chumps 
who think you ’re so awful smart! ” 


262 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ I ’ll give you a chance of seein’ what I ’ll do, 
an’ without much waitin’, if you make any more 
cheap talk! ” 

With this threat Bill turned his back on the dis¬ 
appointed Sam, and Seth begged of him to remain 
quiet. 

“ It’s all right now,” he replied complacently. 
” I’ve had my say, an’ if Sam knows what’s good 
for him, he ’ll keep his tongue quiet. There ain’t 
any reason why I should n’t fight, an’ he ’ll soon 
find it out.” 

Then Seth turned to the attorney, who was yet 
talking with Jip, and asked: 

” How’s he goin’ to pay you for lookin’ after 
him ? ” 

“ I don’t expect he can. The bill was settled by 
some firemen belonging to Ninety-four engine.” 

With this the lawyer, after advising Jip to call 
upon him from time to time, went his way, and 
Mrs. Hanson’s lodgers stood looking at each other 
as if expecting some important proposition was 
about to be made. 

It won’t do to take you up to our house, Jip, 
’cause there are three of us already, an’ the boss of 
the place can’t have all the boys in the city runnin’ 
in an’ out there for sixty cents a week,” Seth said 
hesitatingly, wondering what could be done with 
the lad who had been put on probation. 


THE TRIAL . 


263 


“ I ain’ thinkin’ you could take me there,” 
Master Collins replied promptly. “ Now I ’m out, 
I ’ll begin to sell papers down by the ferry again, 
’cause I’ve got fourteen cents left, an’ if Sam Bar¬ 
ney leaves me alone, I ’ll pull through all right.” 

“If he so much as looks crossways at you, I ’ll 
give him something to remember me by,” Bill 
cried. 

“ It’s a good thing to get right at your work,” 
Seth said approvingly. “ Stick at it, an’ us fellers 
will come to see you whenever we get a chance.” 

“ You ’ve been mighty good to me, all three of 
you, an’ I only wish I could-” 

It was impossible for the penitent firebug to say 
anything more. The tears he had been holding 
back since he first appeared in court now came out 
in full force, and, seated on the curbstone, he gave 
full sway to the sense of loneliness and shame in his 
heart. 

Mrs. Hanson’s lodgers soothed him as best they 
could, and not until he was ready for business once 
more, with a bundle of evening papers under his 
arm, did Seth think of leaving him. 

Dan and Bill had both equipped themselves for 
work, and promised to have an eye out for Jip dur¬ 
ing the remainder of that day at least; therefore, 
Seth believed himself at liberty to follow his own 
inclinations. 



264 AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN . 

“ I want to go up to the engine-house for a spell; 
but I ’ll be in the room in time to go with you to 
school,” he said to Dan, and the latter replied 
cheerily: 

“ All right, we ’ll flash up there by dark, and you 
need n’t be ’fraid anybody will get the best of Jip 
while we ’re round.” 

Ten minutes later Seth was in Ninety-four’s 
quarters, standing in front of ’Lish Davis, as the 
latter asked sternly : 

“ Why did n’t you stay down-town an’ enjoy 
yourself ? That ’s what I told you to do.” 

“ I can have more fun up here, an’ I did n’t think 
you ’d care if I loafed ’round till it was time to go 
to school.” 

“ Care ? Of course we don’t, Amateur; but you 
ought ’er have some change; there ’s no sense in 
hanging on here all the time.” 

I don’t see very much of you, an’ perhaps- 99 

“ You ’re reckoning that we may get a call, and 
you ’ll have the chance to go out with us ? ” 

“ If there was one, I ’d like-” 

Mr. Davis interrupted him by saying with mock 
seriousness: 

“I’m afraid, Amateur, we shall have to hire a 
back-yard somewhere, and keep a little blaze going 
so’s to amuse you.” 

Seth laughed heartily at this conceit, and then 




THE TRIAL. 


265 


bethinking himself that there was no reason why he 
should not give the men’s boots an extra polish, 
brought his outfit from the chamber above, although 
Jerry Walters insisted strongly that he should sit 
still “ and visit with ’em.” 

To do this work he had drawn on an old pair of 
overalls to protect his blue trousers, taken off his 
coat, and was in full working costume, when a 

click ” came from the Morse instrument, and the 
men were already on their feet as the alarm began 
to sound. 

** Am I in it ? ” Seth cried eagerly, as the horses 
dashed out of their stall, and ’Lish Davis replied, 
while attending to his portion of the work: 

“ I reckon we shall have to take you along, Ama¬ 
teur, seeing’s this fire seems to have started jest 
when you got into trim for hard work. Swing 
alongside the engineer, and we ’ll allow you ’re one 
of the company.” 

By the time the driver ceased speaking the engine 
was on its way out of the building, and Seth, sway¬ 
ing to and fro, clung for dear life to the guard-rail, 
as the mighty machine was drawn swiftly over the 
pavement. 

” There’s no chance of our getting first water 
this time, even if we are taking the mascot with us,” 
Jerry Walters said with a laugh, and Amateur 
knew there were no less than three engines stationed 


266 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


nearer the signal-box, from which had come this 
alarm, than was Ninety-four. 

“ A nasty place for a fire,” the engineer said as 
the engine, following another an hundred yards or 
more in advance, rolled on toward a block of apart¬ 
ment houses, from the centre of which could be seen 
dense clouds of black smoke ascending. 

“ And it seems to have a good start,” Walters 
added. 

Then Ninety-four’s hose was coupled on, and, 
without attracting the attention of the driver, Seth 
followed Joe Black and Jerry as they dragged the 
nozzle up the steps to the entrance of the threatened 
building. 

” Get back, Amateur! ” one of them shouted, and 
the boy cried imploringly: 

Please let me go as far as you do! It’s my 
first chance, an’ I ’ve got my old clothes on! ” 

“ All right; but have an eye on yourself, and see 
to it the battalion chief don’t spot you,” Joe Black 
replied carelessly, and Seth congratulated himself 
that he had gone to Ninety-four’s quarters instead 
of spending his time down-town. 

The fire appeared to have its strongest hold in the 
shaft of the elevator, coming from the basement, 
and the two men whom Seth was following, joined 
by Ben Dunton, dragged the long length of hose up 
one flight of stairs to the landing where tongues of 


THE TRIAL. 267 

yellow flame were apparently coming through the 
very floor. 

Once they were in position for battle with the foe 
directly before them, Jerry Walters ran into the ad¬ 
joining apartment, and shouted through the open 
window. 

Even where he stood, shielding his face with his 
arm as best he could from the intense heat and 
blinding smoke, Seth could hear the cry: 

Ninety-four! Start your water! Start your 
water! ” 

If there was any response those on the landing 
did not hear it; but a few seconds later the leathern 
hose began to stiffen and round out into shape, and 
then with a mighty rush that threatened to wrest 
the nozzle from the three strong men who were 
holding it, a jet of water struck the burning floor 
with a force that would have shattered less substan¬ 
tial timbers. 

“ Hurrah for Ninety-four! ” and Seth sprang to 
the hose, intent on doing a full share of the work 
even though his face was almost blistered by the 
heat. 

“ Get back, Amateur, get back! It’s too hot for 
you here! ” and Ben Dunton thrust Seth aside with 
his elbow at the very instant a wild scream was 
heard on the stairway in the rear of the firemen. 

Turning quickly Seth saw dimly through the 


268 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


volume of choking vapor the form of a woman, and 
it seemed to him that Ben Dunton was trying to 
force her down the stairs when she shrieked: 

“ There ’s a child on the next floor! ** 

Jerry Walters and Joe Black could not leave their 
places of duty; but Ben Dunton sprang forward, 
and almost instinctively Seth followed, the smoke 
being so dense at the top of the stairs as to screen 
his movements from the view of those at the nozzle. 

For an instant he fancied Jerry called his name, 
and then he was groping his way upward, half- 
blinded, choking, but eager to do what he might 
toward a rescue. 

He gained the second landing. 

Here everything was obscured by the black 
smoke, and he could no longer see Dunton, al¬ 
though now and then a crashing noise as of wood 
being splintered under heavy blows told, as he be¬ 
lieved, that the brave fireman was intent on the 
effort to save life even though his own might pay 
the forfeit. 

Then with a roar the flames burst from the eleva¬ 
tor shaft directly in front of him, and he staggered 
on along the hallway, hardly knowing in which 
direction he was going until, from behind a door 
near at hand came that which sounded like the cry¬ 
ing of a child. 

He had only to turn the knob in order to gain an 


THE TRIAL. 


269 


entrance into the apartment, which seemed entirely 
free from smoke, as compared with the place he had 
just left. 

On the floor near the window sat a child crying 
piteously, and Seth caught the little thing in his 
arms, thinking it would be possible to gain the foot 
of the stairs, where he had left Black and Walters, 
before either he or his charge should receive serious 
injury. 

Thus laden he ran toward the hallway, but only 
to retreat. 

The flames were pouring up through the shaft, 
spreading out in every direction, and forming such 
a barrier as he could not hope to pass. 

He shouted for Dunton, but no reply came, and 
for the briefest interval of time he despaired. 

Then came into his mind as clearly as if the words 
were yet being spoken, what he had heard said to 
one of the classes concerning just such peril as he 
was in at that moment, and without delay he re¬ 
turned to the room, closing the door behind him to 
shut out the noisome vapor as nearly as might be. 

“ Don’t cry, baby, don’t cry,” he said soothingly 
to the screaming child as he ran here and there 
looking for something with which to carry into 
practice the lesson he had received. 


CHAPTER XVI. 


WINNING A MEDAL. 


HE struggles and screams of the child he was 



I trying to save served to confuse Seth, and the 
smoke, which was growing more stifling each mo¬ 
ment, bewildered at the same time that it choked 


him. 


But for the lectures the boy had heard at head¬ 
quarters, neither he nor the baby would have left 
the apartment alive. 

He realized the vital necessity of keeping a “ grip 
on himself,” as Josh Fernald had expressed it, and, 
in order the better to do so, repeated again and 
again the words of the instructor. 

During the first dozen seconds he tried to soothe 
the child, and then came the thought that the little 
one would suffocate more quickly by inhaling the 
smoke-laden atmosphere as she gasped and sobbed 
violently. 

A garment—perhaps it was a table-cloth or a light 
blanket—hung over the back of a chair near at hand, 
and this Seth wound around the baby’s face, regard¬ 
less of its struggles. 


270 


WINNING A MEDAL. 


271 


“ A clear head is the next best thing to a ladder,” 
he said again and again, repeating the words of Mr. 
Fernald, and all the while searching for a rope, or 
something which would serve him in its stead. 

By this time the room was completely filled with 
smoke, and his eyes were blinded, smarting, burning. 

Near the window was a footstool, and seizing 
this with one hand he hurled it through the glass. 

Fresh air was a necessity now; he must have it, 
or speedily succumb to the deadly vapor. 

Holding the child, who was apparently in a 
paroxysm of fear, or a spasm caused by pain, close 
against his breast, he thrust the upper portion of his 
body through the aperture regardless of the sharp 
fragments of glass which cut his flesh cruelly. 

What a blessed relief was this first in-drawing of 
comparatively fresh air! 

The “ clear head ” was coming to him rapidly, 
and he understood that unless aid could be sum¬ 
moned from below he must make immediate battle 
with the vapor again, for with every moment the 
flames on the landing were increasing. 

“ Ninety-four! ” he shouted at the full strength 
of his lungs. “ This way, Ninety-four! ” 

He could hear from below a tumult of shouts and 
commands; but none of them appeared to be an 
answer to his cry. 

The roaring of the fire as it came through the 


2J2 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


elevator-shaft could be clearly distinguished even 
above all the noise, and he knew full well the blaze 
must soon make its way through the door, which 
presented but a frail barrier against the on-rush of 
flame. 

“Ninety-four! Here, Ninety-four! ” he cried 
once more without receiving a reply, and feeling 
comparatively strong for another struggle against 
the smoke, he drew the covering more closely 
around the child's head, at the same time stepping 
back into the suffocating vapor. 

He made his way by sense of touch rather than 
sight into the adjoining apartment. 

It was the kitchen of the suite, and at one end, 
stretched across from wall to wall above the range, 
was a cord on which hung several articles of wearing 
apparel. 

Placing the child, who had ceased to struggle, on 
the floor, he tore at this apology for a rope with all 
his strength, dragging it from its fastenings, and, 
taking up the baby once more, ran back to the 
window from which he had just come. 

It was but the work of a few seconds to tie one 
end of the cord under the child’s arms; but yet it 
seemed to him, half bewildered and suffering as he 
was, that more than five minutes passed before it 
had been completed. 

“ Ninety-four! ’’ he shouted as he thrust the 





SETH RESCUES THE BABY 


Page 272 





























WINNING A MEDAL. 


273 


seemingly lifeless body through the aperture, cut¬ 
ting his hands and arms again and again on the 
sharp points of glass. 

Quickly, but at the same time gently, he lowered 
the burden until the cord was at its full length. 

It did not seem possible this poor substitute for a 
life-line extended much below the top of the first 
story, and he dared not let go his hold lest the child 
should be dashed to death upon the pavement. 

Once more he called for the men who he knew 
must be close at hand, leaning far out of the window 
in the faint hope he might be seen. 

His eyes were so blinded that he could distinguish 
nothing; he was unable to say whether the smoke 
yet enveloped him or if he was in full view of the 
men below. 

The sense of suffocation was heavy upon him ; he 
tried to repeat Josh Fernald’s words, but failed, 
and then came the knowledge—dim and unreal— 
that the cord was slipping, or being pulled, from his 
grasp. 

He made a final effort to retain his hold, and at 
the instant there was in his mind, as if he dreamed, 
a fancy that strong arms were around him. 

After that all was a blank until he opened his 
eyes to see ’Lish Davis bending over him as he had 
done on that night when Jip Collins set fire to the 
shed in Baxter’s lumber-yard. 


274 AN amateur fireman. 

** Where ’s the baby ? ” he asked, attempting to 
rise, but forced back by the deathly faintness which 
assailed him. 

“ His mother has got him by this time, Amateur, 
and you ’ve made a man of yourself in shorter order 
than the majority of us are able to do. It was a 
close shave, lad, and we ’ll have no more like it till 
the time comes when it’s your duty to take such 
chances.” 

The driver’s voice sounded oddly to the half- 
stupefied boy; usually it was gruff, like that of a 
man in a bad temper, but now it quavered as if the 
speaker was making an unsuccessful effort to con¬ 
trol his emotions. 

Seth allowed his head to fall back on a pile of 
rubber blankets, and as his cheeks touched the 
smooth surface there came to him the thought that 
once more he was in the patrol-wagon. 

How long he remained apparently unable to speak 
he had no idea, and then he heard the shout from 
afar off, but readily distinguishable above the pant¬ 
ing of the engines: 

“ How is Ninety-four’s kid ? ” 

’Lish Davis rose to his feet and cried in reply: 

He’s got his head again, and appears to be all 
right! ” 

At that moment some one stepped to the side of 
the wagon and asked the driver: 


WINNING A MEDAL. 


275 


Shall we send an ambulance ? ” 

I reckon he ’ll get along without it, Chief. It’s 
only the reg’lar dose, as nigh as I can make out.” 

How did he happen to be here instead of at 
headquarters ? ” 

It was his day off, owing to being a witness in 
an arson case, and he’d come up to the house to 
visit us.” 

” We shall have to put him in a straight-jacket 
until he is taken on as a fireman, else something 
serious may happen. This would be a case for a 
medal if he belonged to the Department.” 

” That ’s what he does, Chief. He comes as nigh 
being one of Ninety-four’s men as I am, and if it so 
be a medal belongs to him, we ’ll see he gets it.” 

Seth heard, but did not understand this conversa¬ 
tion. 

He knew it was one of the battalion chiefs who 
had been talking with Mr. Davis, and it was enough 
for him that his name had been spoken in a friendly 
tone. 

The driver leaned over him once more, and asked 
almost tenderly: 

“ Will I send you up to the house, Amateur ? ” 

” Can’t I stay till Ninety-four pulls out ? ” 

” Well, of all gluttons, you ’re the worst! ” ’Lish 
Davis cried as if in delight. ” Dosed ’way up till 
you can hardly wink, and yet wanting to hold on 


2 y6 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


to the last! Ben Dunton is caring for the team, 
and I reckon you and I had better pull out in this 
’ere hurry-up.” 

” What about the fire ? ” 

“ It ’s under control, though I ’m allowing it ’ll 
be a full two hours before Ninety-four gets the word 
to leave.” 

Then Davis left the boy a moment, and when he 
returned the patrol-wagon was driven slowly out 
past the laboring engines, through the throng of 
spectators, into the unobstructed streets, after 
which the horses were urged to their full speed. 

“ There’s no need of takin’ me back, Mr. Davis. 
I ain’t much worse than I was the time Dan an’ me 
was burned out. ” 

” But then it needed a night’s rest to put you into 
shape, and I ’m not minded to run any risks. 
Ninety-four’s kid is getting to be so near a man 
that we can’t afford to take any chances with him.” 

Hello ! Amateur in trouble again ? ” the 
house watchman asked when ’Lish Davis helped 
Seth into the building, and the driver replied 
proudly: 

I don’t allow he’s an amateur any longer, Bob, 
but fit to be one of us in proper form. He saved a 
baby, and came mighty nigh knocking under.” 

” How did he get a chance to do anything like 
that ? ” 


WINNING A MEDAL . 


277 


“ Slipped past me, and followed Jerry and Joe; I 
don’t rightly know the whole of it yet. The Chief 
allowed it was a medal job, though one can’t be 
given, except to members of the Department.” 

“ Then Seth is entitled to it, for he’s on our rolls 
as if belongin’ to us.” 

** We ’ll see that he gets all he’s earned, Bob,” 
’Lish Davis replied, and then he conducted the boy 
up-stairs, insisting that he should go to bed. 

” I ’ll be all right after a spell,” Seth protested, 
and the driver replied grimly, in his usual harsh 
tone: 

” That’s what I’m going to make certain of, kid. 
Peel off your clothes and turn in if you don’t want 
to have trouble with me.” 

Seth obeyed with a laugh, and was equally tract¬ 
able a few moments later when ’Lish Davis brought 
a glass half full of a certain disagreeable mixture for 
him to drink. 

Then the boy’s eyelids grew heavy; he said to 
himself he would remain awake until Ninety-four 
returned, but the thought was hardly more than 
formed in his mind before slumber overcame him. 

It was late in the evening when he was awakened 
by the sound of voices near at hand, and on looking 
around Seth saw, to his great surprise, Mr. Fernald 
talking with ’Lish Davis. 

** Hello! got your eyes open again, eh ? ” the old 


2;8 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


instructor cried, and Seth would have arisen to his 
feet but that Mr. Fernald’s hand was laid heavily 
upon his shoulder. 

“I’m all right now, sir, an’ I promised to go to 
school with Bill an’ Dan.” 

“ It’s a little late for anything of that kind now, 
my boy, seeing that the clock has just struck ten. 
What ’s all this talk I hear of your showing the 
members of the Department how to effect a rescue? ” 

“ It was n’t me, sir. I only got the baby out of 
the window, an’ somebody else must have taken 
him from there.’’ 

“ It was Jerry Walters who came up the ladder,” 
’Lish Davis interrupted. 

“ The credit of saving the child belongs to you, 
Seth,” Mr. Fernald said, decidedly, “ and I hope 
there ’ll be no question about its being given. Tell 
us how it was done.” 

“ There is n’t much to tell, sir. I jest heard the 
baby yellin’, an’ went in after it. Then the smoke 
made me feel silly, an’ I had to keep sayin’ to my¬ 
self what I heard you tellin’ the class, about a clear 
head bein’ the next best thing to a ladder, else I ’d 
gone under before I found the rope.” 

“ Now there’s the kind of a pupil to have! ” Mr. 
Fernald cried proudly. “ There’s some satisfaction 
in knowing that what a man says will be remem¬ 
bered when the time comes that it may be of profit. 


WINNING A MEDAL. 


279 


You shall go regularly into the class from this out, 
Seth Bartlett, whether the commissioners approve 
or not, and we ’ll find some one else to do the odd 
jobs.” 

“ Do you really think I stand a better chance of 
gettin’ into the Department because of tryin’ to 
pull the kid through ? ” Seth asked in surprise, and 
Josh Fernald replied to the great delight of both 
the boy and Mr. Davis: 

If I can bring any influence to bear, you shall 
be there very soon, my lad, and at all events, from 
this time out you will be kept at work on the drill. 
Ninety-four’s kid is of considerably more impor¬ 
tance to-night than he was this morning.” 

After such praise as this it se.emed impossible for 
Seth to remain in bed, and finally ’Lish Davis con¬ 
sented to his going down-stairs for a time. 

The hour which Seth spent on the lower floor on 
this night was the most pleasant he had ever known. 

The men did not occupy the time in praising him, 
but discussed the rescue again and again, and never 
once was the boy spoken to, or of, as the ‘ ‘ Amateur. 

’Lish Davis insisted on his remaining in the 
engine-house all night, but gave Seth distinctly to 
understand that however many alarms might come 
in, he was not to so much as think of going out 
with the company. 

“ You ’ll be on sick leave till to-morrow morning, 


28 o 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


when Josh Fernald is expecting you at headquar¬ 
ters, and then it ’ll be for him to say when we ’re to 
see you again.” 

“But of course I ’ll sleep at Mrs. Hanson’s 
same’s I ’ve been doin’ ? ” 

“I can’t say how it ’ll be, lad; but whatever Josh 
allows must be done will come nigh being right.” 

What between his happiness and the sleep he had 
indulged in during the early part of the evening, 
Seth Bartlett was unusually wakeful, and until past 
midnight he lay in a cot near ’Lish Davis’s bed 
speculating upon what Mr. Fernald might be able 
to do in regard to procuring his admission to the 
school at headquarters. 

Then slumber interfered with his waking dreams, 
and he knew no more until daylight next morning, 
when he crept softly out of bed to perform his cus¬ 
tomary task. 

He did the work on the lower floor lest he should 
disturb those who were yet asleep, and was getting 
well along with it when Joe Black came down. 

“ How are you feelin’ this mornin’, kid ?” he 
asked, in an unusually friendly tone. 

“ Fine as silk. That medicine Mr. Davis gave 
me fixed everything in great shape.” 

“ I see you ’re still blackin’ boots.” 

“ Why should n’t I be ? It was the bargain that 
I could do it till I got into the Department.” 


WINNING A MEDAL. 


28l 


I ’m allowing ’Lish will claim you ’re so near 
there now that you must graduate from this kind of 
work.” 

But, of course, I ’m not near gettin’ into the 
Department, for they don’t make firemen of boys.” 

“As a rule they don’t; but I ’m reckoning 
there ’ll be something in the way of an exception 
with you. I ’m not allowin’ you ’ll be allowed to 
swell around as full member of a company, but you 
are bound to be recognized as belonging to us.” 

Seth failed to understand how any immediate 
change could be effected in his standing, save that 
he might be admitted to the classes at headquarters, 
and before he could ask Joe Black to make an ex¬ 
planation a shrill voice was heard calling through 
the half-opened door: 

“ Say, Mister, is Seth Bartlett here ? ” 

It was Dan, and Seth stepped forward to prevent 
him from coming in, when Joe Black said: 

“ There’s no reason why you should go out on 
the sidewalk to talk with your friends. You ’ve 
got the same privileges here that all hands have.” 

By this time Dan had stepped inside, and catch- 
ing a glimpse of Seth he cried: 

“ Say, old man, you ’re goin’ it mighty strong, 
but we ’re proud of you. The fellers count on 
givin’you a reg’lar blow-out to-morrow, if it’s so 
you can come down-town.” 


28 2 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ Do you mean ’cause of what was done last 
night, Dan ? ” Seth asked, surprised that his room¬ 
mate should have learned of the affair so soon, and 
Joe Black gave way to his mirth, although why he 
thought there was anything comical in what had 
been said, neither of the boys understood. 

“ Course I ’m talkin’ ’bout your savin’ the 
baby.” 

” How did you hear of it so soon ? ” 

“ Hear of it! Why, it’s in all the papers! Look 
at this! ” and Dan unfolded the morning Herald as 
he pointed to an article nearly a column in length, 
which was headed, ” A Brave Boy.” 

Seth made no attempt to read the account, and 
Dan cried impatiently as he held the sheet in front 
of him: 

Why, don’t you see what it says ? The fellers 
down-town are pretty nigh wild ’cause you ’ve 
showed the firemen that you ain’t any slouch, 
even if you did black boots for a livin’. I reckon 
Sam Barney will get green when he sees it, an’ 
Bill’s hangin’ ’round so ’s to make certain that 
duffer hears ’bout it the first thing. Say, can’t you 
come down by the post-office now ? ” 

” I’ve got to go up to headquarters same as ever, 
an’ it ’s most time now.” 

But the fellers are just crazy to see you.” 

” They ’ll have to wait till night,” Seth replied 


WINNING A MEDAL. 283 

with a laugh, " 'cause I 'm bound to be there right 
on the dot." 

I '11 walk up with you." 

“ All right; I 'm ready now as soon as I put on 
my coat." 

Seth went to the floor above for the purpose of 
getting the garment, and while he was absent Joe 
Black asked Dan: 

“ What are you boys counting on doing with our 
kid ?" 

" We 're goin' to give him one of the biggest 
blow-outs that 's ever been seen in this town. Do 
you s’pose we 'd lay still after he's been an’ done 
what he did ? We '11 show that we believe he 's a 
dandy." 

" What kind of a blow-out do you mean ? " 

" A reg’lar spread with plenty to eat, an' it won’t 
cost Seth a cent. Bill an’ Teddy Bowser are rushin’ 
'round seein’ to it now. Folks think we fellers 
don’t count for much, but some of ’em will sing a 
different tune after readin’ what he did! You can 
bet we 're reckonin' on givin' him a great send-off." 

" Look here, Dan," Joe Black whispered. " I 
would n’t mind seeing how you lads get up a thing 
of that sort, and if you '11 give me an invite I '11 
chip in a dollar." 

"Will you wear your uniform?" Dan asked 
eagerly. 


284 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ I ’ll put on every button I ’ve got; but you are 
not to tell Seth I ’m coming.” 

“ It’s a go,” Master Roberts replied gravely, and 
then the arrival of Seth interrupted the conversa¬ 
tion. 

When they were outside the engine-house Dan in¬ 
sisted that his partner give him the full story of the 
rescue, and he was not satisfied 'with a general ac¬ 
count, but demanded every particular from the time 
Ninety-four left her quarters until Josh Fernald had 
taken his departure. 

“ Well, it’s bound to be a big thing for you,” he 
said, thoughtfully, “ even if you don’t get a medal.” 

“ See here, Dan, Mr. Davis has said considerable 
’bout medals, an’ I don’t understand it.” 

“ Are you claimin’ to be posted in the fire busi¬ 
ness, an’ don’t know things like that are given to 
men who save folks from bein’ burned up ? ” 

Of course I know it; but I ’m talkin’ about 
myself. I can’t have a medal ’cause I ain’t a fire¬ 
man yet.” 

“If you ’d read the Herald as I wanted, you ’d 
seen that the printed piece said you earned one.” 

“ I don’t think I did, not even if I belonged 
reg’larly to the Department. It was Jerry Walters 
who did the most of the work, ’cause if he had n’t 
come jest then it would have been all day with me— 
I was mighty near gone.” 


WINNING A MEDAL . 


285 


“ Don’t you make such talk as that to any¬ 
body but me, Seth Bartlett,” Dan cried sharply. 

What’s the use of givin’ anything away when 
folks are howlin’ ’bout your bein’ so brave ? A 
feller is bound to blow his own horn sometimes in 
this world, else he’d never get along, an’ that’s 
what you must do now.” 

“ If I can’t get into the Department without it, 
I ’ll go back to shinin’ boots. Look at Sam Bar¬ 
ney! He’s always doin’ that, an’ what does he 
’mount to ? ” 

“ Oh, a feller must have some sand to back him, 
else he won’t pull through, an’ you know there’s 
nothin’ to Sam but wind. Here’s where you stop, 
an’ I HHsnoop back down-town. The fellers are 
countin’ on givin’ you a racket to-morrow night, 
an’ you must be on hand.” 

“ See here, Dan, don’t you spend good money 
when you ’re needin’ it for the store, jest for the 
sake of puffin’ me up.” 

“ I reckon what I ’ll put out won’t bust me, even 
if we have ’greed to whack up fifteen cents apiece. 
Bill, Teddy, an’ me will chip in for Jip, so ’s he 
can have a good time after all his hard luck, an’ 
we ’ll make your eyes stick out before it ’s over.” 

“ I’d a good deal rather you did n’t do it.” 

“ There ’s no use to kick now, ’cause it ’s too 
late. I would n’t wonder if it was all fixed by this 


286 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN . 


time. You see, Bill an’ me was ’fraid you ’d been 
hurt, seein’ ’s you didn’t come over to the room last 
night, an’ the fellers wanted me to find out ’bout 
it, so’s if there was any trouble we could hold off 
the blow-out till you ’d come ’round ag’in. So 
long; I ’ll see you to-night,” and Dan was off like 
a flash. 

Seth watched until his friend was lost to view in 
the distance, and then entered the building. 

The first man he met shook hands with him in 
the most friendly manner, congratulating him upon 
the service he had done, and so did every one he 
saw, until he was absolutely astounded at the warmth 
of his reception. 

For a moment it seemed as if the officials at head¬ 
quarters were taking as deep an interest in him as 
did Ninety-four’s company, and there were so many 
who thus had a kindly word that it was nearly an 
hour from the time he arrived before it was possible 
to present himself at the gymnasium. 

There Mr. Fernald showed him marked attention 
before those of the class who were assembled, and, 
as Seth confidentially told ’Lish Davis that evening, 
” he was afraid he ’d get a big head if folks did n’t 
let up on his saving the baby.” 

At noon Josh Fernald held a long conversation 
with Seth, the substance of which was that permis¬ 
sion had been received to put him under instruction 


WINNING A MEDAL 


287 


precisely as if he had been appointed a member of 
the Department on probation, and he would be 
taught the entire drill from that day forth. 

Next spring, when the Bennett, Stephenson, 
and Pulitzer medals are awarded, the Life-Saving 
Corps will give an exhibition drill at some public 
place, and I ’ve decided that you shall be among 
them. Work hard, my lad, and on that day when 
the citizens of New York turn out to see those of 
the force who have distinguished themselves in the 
way of saving life, you can make your appearance 
in a manner that will give great pleasure to your 
comrades of Ninety-four." 

Mr. Fernald did not give Seth an opportunity ot 
thanking him, but suddenly walked away as if bent 
on important business at the other end of the room, 
and the boy said to himself with pride and delight: 

“He called Ninety-four’s men my comrades! 
That ’s a big step-up for a bootblack to make, an’ 
I wonder how ’Lish Davis will like it ? ” 


CHAPTER XVII. 


THE BLOW-OUT. 

M UCH to Dan's disappointment, Seth could 
not go down-town on this first evening after 
having distinguished himself in the Department. 

When ’Lish Davis heard what Mr. Fernald had 
said he insisted on having a long and confidential 
chat with the boy, and it was not concluded until a 
very late hour in the evening. 

“ The time has now come, kid, when you ’re the 
same as one of us, and we of Ninety-four who 
counted on giving you such a boost have been 
cheated out of it by what you did for yourself,” the 
driver began gravely, and in a tone sufficiently loud 
for the other members of the company to hear. 
** From this out you ’re in the Department, and we 
have no fear but that in due course of time you ’ll 
be assigned to some company—this one, if we can 
have our way. Now, there’s a question of money 
to come up precious soon, for we here have got the 
idee that the city won’t pay wages while you ’re 
under instruction. 

” Of course, we may be in the wrong as to that, 
288 


THE BLOW-OUT. 


289 


but if we ain’t, how ’ll you live ? That’s what 
we ’ve asked ourselves, and this is the way we an¬ 
swer it: Every man in the Department looks on you 
as Ninety-four’s kid, and we can’t allow anything 
that would go against our credit, consequently you 
have got to turn to us for support till you ’re under 
wages. We ’ll assess ourselves so much every 
month, and charge it up to you in reg’lar fashion 
so it can be paid back some time. Now, you ’re to 
make no kick, for we’ve settled it once and for all.” 

“ Why could n’t I black boots at odd times ? ” 
Seth asked, pleadingly. 

” Because there won’t be any ‘ odd times ’ in the 
first place, and secondly we ’re not minded to have 
it said we could n’t see you through. Can’t you 
understand that we ’re looked on by them as are in 
the Department as your father, or guardeen, or 
something of that kind, and it ’s our own credit 
we ’re bound to uphold ? How would it look for a 
fireman to be around blackin’ boots ? And that ’s 
what you are this very minute, even though you 
have n’t had an appointment.” 

Then one member of the company after another 
gave his views on the subject, until it would have 
been rank ingratitude had Seth refused the generous 
proposition. 

It was agreed to by all that a strict account 

should be kept of the amounts advanced, and he be 
*9 


2Q0 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


allowed to repay the company at the earliest oppor¬ 
tunity after he was under salary. 

When this matter had been settled by Seth’s 
promise to take such sums of money as he needed, 
and “ look pleasant about it,” the men discussed 
his future, and spoke of the time when he would be 
running with Ninety-four, until it did not require a 
very great stretch of the imagination for the boy to 
fancy himself already a member of the company. 

On reaching Mrs. Hanson’s he found his room¬ 
mates awake, and grumbling because he had not 
returned sooner. 

” I s’pose we shan’t see very much of you now 
you ’re gettin’ so high up in the Department, eh ?” 
Dan said in a tone of ill-humor. 

“You ’ll see me all my spare time, providin’ you 
an’ Bill still agree to go to school, ’cause I ’ve got 
to duf into study in great shape now, an’ we ’ll be 
together every evening.” 

” Got to do it now ? What else has come up ? ” 

“ Mr. Fernald has put me right into the drill, an’ 
I don’t have to tackle the odd jobs any more.” 

” Are you a fireman already ? ” and Dan sprang 
to his feet in astonishment. 

** Of course not; but I ’m to be drilled the same 
as if I was, an’ in case I show sand enough you ’ll 
see me in the exhibition drill that’s to be given on 
the street next spring.” 


THE BLOW-OUT . 


29I 

Neither Dan nor Bill spoke for several seconds, 
and then the former exclaimed with emphasis: 

“ Say, but you ’re gettin’ there with both feet, 
eh ?” 

It was midnight before the roommates could 
afford to retire, and then it was understood that on 
the following evening at seven o’clock Seth was to 
be at the main entrance to the post-office, in readi¬ 
ness for the “ blow-out ” to be given in his honor. 

In vain he questioned his friends concerning the 
proposed feast. 

They would give him no further information on 
the subject, declaring that he would “ have his eye 
knocked out before the thing was over.” 

At daylight next morning Seth was at Ninety- 
four’s house blacking boots, despite the fact that 
’Lish Davis had given orders another boy should 
be engaged for such work, and before the members 
of the company were astir he departed for head¬ 
quarters. 

During this day the ” new probationer,” as he 
was called, was kept at work learning how to handle, 
raise, and balance ladders, and it is safe to say 
he never did more labor in a single twelve hours 
before. 

He was exceedingly tired when supper-time ar¬ 
rived, but did his best to prevent Mr. Fernald from 
suspecting the fact. 


292 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


“ Feeling rather sore ?” the instructor asked as 
the boy came to say good-night. 

“ I ain’t played out, sir.” 

“If such was the case, would you admit it ? ” 

“ I ’d hate to,” Seth replied with a smile, and 
Mr. Fernald said in a friendly tone, as if speaking 
to a comrade instead of a pupil: 

“It is hard work, this learning the trade of a 
fireman, my boy, and there may be times when you 
will feel discouraged; but keep a firm grip on your¬ 
self at all times, live regularly, avoid bad habits, or, 
in other words, keep in rigid training, and you will 
master it.” 

“I’m not afraid of failin’ so far as I’m concerned, 
sir, but it may be I ’ll tire others out, an’ so get me 
walkin’ ticket.” 

“ You need have no such fear on my account, 
lad, so long as you do your level best.” 

Seth understood that Mr. Fernald had brought 
the interview to an end, and he set out for the 
rendezvous at the post-office, wondering not a 
little what and whom he should find at the “ blow¬ 
out.” 

As he neared the business locations of his differ¬ 
ent friends he was surprised because he failed to 
meet any whom he knew. 

It was as if every news-vender and bootblack had 
suddenly disappeared from the face of the earth, 


THE BLOW-OUT. 293 

although it was not yet so late but that considerable 
business might have been done. 

Arriving at the post-office he met there Bill and 
Dan alone. 

He had expected to see a great throng, and began 
to believe that for some good reason the “ blow¬ 
out ” had been postponed. 

Have you given it up ? ” he asked in what he 
intended should be a careless tone, for even though 
he had advised Dan not to ** start the thing,” it had 
given him no slight satisfaction because his ac¬ 
quaintances and friends should desire thus to do 
him honor. 

“ Give up nothin’! ” Bill exclaimed. “ Ain’t we 
here on time ? ” 

“ I did n’t know from what you said last night 
but that some of the other fellers were cornin’.” 

“ We ’ve fixed everything jest as we want it, 
an’ she’s goin’ along as smooth as a die,” Master 
Roberts replied in a tone of satisfaction. “ Them 
as don’t know their business gets left; but we 
have n’t got in with that crowd, eh, William ? ” 

“ We shan’t mildew even if we ain’t taken in for 
a considerable spell,” Bill said contentedly, and 
added an instant later: “ Now Seth’s come I don’t 
see why we should stand ’round here any longer.” 

“ Let her go; I’m ready”; and Master Roberts 
set out in advance, leading the way toward Chat- 


294 


AN AM A TEUR FIREMAN. 


ham Street much as if believing every person whom 
they met knew he was conducting the boy who ran 
with Ninety-four. 

“ Where are we goin’ ?” Seth asked of Bill, be¬ 
lieving now that the spread concerning which so 
much had been said was to be confined strictly to 
the lodgers in Mrs. Hanson’s house. 

“You ’ll see when we strike there, an’ if it ain’t 
tony enough for a swell from the Department, you 
can get out.” 

Seth gazed in surprise at his friend; but the lat¬ 
ter’s face was expressionless, and the guest of the 
evening began to fear some disaster had overtaken 
the plans of his roommates. 

“ Seen Sam Barney to-day? ’’ the “ probationary 
fireman ” asked after a brief time of silence. 

“ I struck him mighty heavy yesterday, an’ he’s 
been layin’ low ever since. I made up my mind 
that he should see the printed stuff about you in 
the papers, an’ hung ’round till he flashed up. 
Then I acted as if he an’ me was the best friends in 
the world, an’ asked if he knowed what kind of a 
racket you’d been on. That was enough to make 
him read the paper I had, an’ you can bet he was 
sick when he got through. Teddy Bowser hit him up 
ag’in ’bout an hour afterward, an from that time till 
pretty nigh dark we kept him chafin’ under the collar. 
Then he lit out, an’ we have n’t seen him since.” 


THE BLOW-OUT. 


295 


How ’s Jip gettin’ along ? ” 

“ First-class; tendin’ right out on business, an’ 
goin’ to pull through into a decent kind of a feller. 
Say, you know Dan made up his mind to own a 
store on Third Avenoo ? ” 

“ Yes, an’ I hope he won’t back down.” 

Well, I guess not! He can’t, ’cause I’ve gone 
into partners with him, an’ there won’t be any 
funny business. We ’re goin’ to take Jip for a 
clerk.” 

” But you have n’t got the store yet.” 

It ain’t such a dreadful long ways off. We’ve 
got most twelve dollars towards it, an’ I know of a 
man what ’ll sell out a bang-up good place for a 
hundred an’ fifty. I ’m allowin’ we ’ll get that 
much before spring.” 

” What makes him sell it so cheap ? ” 

” The reason is that he’s a duffer; wants to lay 
back smokin’ an’ have the dollars come rollin’ in 
without his raisin’ a hair. Of course he ain’t 
gettin’ along very smart, an’ we ’ll soon be ready to 
take it. With two fellers who are willin’ to work 
there ’s a big thing in that place. We ’re countin’ 
on settin’ up a boot-blackin’ place with chairs an’ 
all such kind of swellin’, you know. It ’s going to 
be ‘ Roberts & Dean, Newsdealers an’ Shiners.’ ” 

“ You ’ll make a go of it, Bill.” 

“ Course we shall,” was the complacent reply. 


ig 6 AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 

“ I knowed it was a good thing jest as soon as Dan 
flashed her up, an’ said I ’d come in before he got 
half through talkin’. This ’ere little blow-out is 
the only thing we’re goin’ to spend any money on 
till we get the shop paid for.” 

“ It’s too bad for you to put out good money on 
me.” 

“ What we ’re doin’ to-night won’t break us, I 
reckon. First off we allowed it would cost fifteen 
cents apiece; but we had an offer of three dollars 
for that many tickets, which comes pretty nigh 
payin’ all the bills.” 

“ Three dollars for three tickets! ” Seth repeated 
in perplexity. ** What is it you ’ve been gettin’ 
up, Bill ?” 

“ Hold on ’bout four minutes longer, an’ then the 
whole thing will be flashed up. It ’s great! ” 

Before the time specified by Bill had elapsed, Dan 
suddenly turned into a German restaurant, walked 
the length of the lower floor, and led the way up¬ 
stairs. 

Seth felt that already was his ” eye bein’ knocked 
out.” 

He knew there were private supper-rooms in some 
of these Chatham Street establishments, but had 
never been fortunate enough to see one, and now 
he was to enter as a guest of honor. 

Dan threw open the door at the head of the stairs. 


THE BLOW-OUT . 297 

Seth was conscious of a blaze of light, the hum of 
voices, and before it was possible to distinguish 
anything clearly, Bill cried : 

“ Three cheers for Ninety-four's kid! ” 

Then rang out a shout which seemed actually to 
rock the building to and fro, and by the time the 
tumult had subsided the guest of the evening saw a 
long table, on either side of which were seated all 
his friends and acquaintances among the sidewalk 
merchants, while at the head 'Lish Davis, Jerry 
Walters, and Joe Black presided with as much 
gravity as if it had been the swellest of swell func¬ 
tions. 

Now Seth understood who had purchased supper 
tickets at one dollar a plate. 

The honored guest was shown to a seat near 
Ninety-four's driver. 

Dan and Bill took places opposite, and the former 
called in a loud, commanding voice for the benefit of 
Teddy Bowser, who was stationed at the door: 

“ Let ’em flash her up,; we 're all here! ” 

Teddy cried to some one below, and during the 
next ten minutes two waiters were kept busy bring¬ 
ing upstairs sandwiches, bologna in generous, thick 
slices, sauerkraut without stint, potato salad, and a 
variety of small cakes plentifully besprinkled with 
tiny seeds. 

While this feast was being placed upon the table 


298 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


no one spoke, but instantly Teddy gave a peculiar 
sign by crossing his throat and winking one eye, 
Dan cried: 

“ Now pitch in, fellers, an’ fill right up! We ’re 
doin’ this ’cause Seth Bartlett has got into the De¬ 
partment, an’ the one what don’t eat all he ought’er 
will have trouble with me.” 

If Master Roberts had been a veritable giant 
seeking whom he might devour, the boys could not 
have shown more fear lest his command should not 
be obeyed. 

Every fellow present felt that it was his duty to 
eat a generous portion of each dish before him, and 
he did it hurriedly lest Dan might have cause for 
complaint. 

Nor were the guests who had paid ” their cold 
dollars,” as Dan explained, idle. 

All three ate heartily to the evident satisfaction 
of the others, and ’Lish Davis even entered so 
thoroughly into the spirit of the affair as to suggest 
that they send for another dish of sauerkraut. 

In ten minutes or less the hunger of the guests 
was in a measure appeased, and as they dallied with 
the dainties Dan set in motion that portion of the 
entertainment which, in his opinion, was to be the 
crowning feature. 

It ain’t many times that duffers like us has a 
chance to rub up against Ninety-four’s men, an’ we 



THE BLOW-OUT. Page 298. 













































































































































































































































THE BLOW-OUT. 


299 


want to show ’em that we know what ’s what,” he 
had said privately to Bill the evening previous, and 
now was come the moment when the exhibition 
should be made. 

After making certain that all were giving him 
their attention, he rose slowly to his feet, looked 
round as if to collect his thoughts, and said in a 
loud tone, much as though repeating something he 
had committed to memory: 

Fellers, an’ Ninety-four’s men are in it, too: 
We spread ourselves on this ’ere blow-out ’cause 
Seth Bartlett has got into the Department owin’ to 
havin’ saved a kid, and now if all hands are ’way up 
full we ’ll have a little speech from Mr. ’Lish 
Davis, driver of Ninety-four engine, who’s one of 
the three what gave up a big cold dollar for this lot 
of stuff.” 

Then Dan sat down with a complacent smile upon 
his face, as if believing he had said the right thing 
in the right place, and Mr. Davis actually appeared 
embarrassed. 

He had come to the feast expecting to enjoy 
himself by listening to the sidewalk merchants, and 
found that it was himself who would provide a 
goodly portion of the entertainment. 

Never doubting but that this had been all ar¬ 
ranged beforehand, Seth gazed at the driver, won¬ 
dering why he was so slow in making a response, 


300 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

while Jerry and Joe laughed heartily, for they knew 
that ’Lish had been taken wholly by surprise. 

However, the driver of Ninety-four was not one 
who would be discomfited by such as Dan Roberts, 
and he began his speech, with considerable hesita¬ 
tion, but warming to his subject as he proceeded. 

“ I did n’t allow that I was to be part of the 
show when I come here, and Dan Roberts has got 
one the best of me; but yet, I ain’t quite downed. 
The man who could n’t say a good word now never 
ought to set in anywhere, because there ’s a deal 
more than something to eat, if you boys will only 
look at it in the right light. In the first place 
you ’ve spread yourself because Ninety-four’s kid 
has the same as got into the Department, and per¬ 
haps some of you think he ’s lucky. I tell you, 
kids, luck had n’t anything to do with it. Seth is 
being made a fireman because whatever he struck 
he stuck at, and never let a living chance go by 
him. When he first came up to Ninety-four’s house 
we gave him the cold shoulder, but he kept plug¬ 
ging away till we grew to like his pluck; yet nobody 
held out a hand to him till he’d hung to his idea so 
long that we jest could n’t help ourselves. He 
worked in where he wanted to go, and so can every 
one of you. I ain’t holding that all of us are born 
to be firemen, but whatever we count on being 
we’ve got to work for, and work hard. Do that, 


THE BLOW-OUT . 


301 


and you ’ll pull through in pretty nigh everything 
you tackle.” 

When ’Lish Davis sat down, blushing rosy red, 
Dan sprang up like a jumping-jack from a box, and 
proposed: 

” Three cheers for the driver of Ninety-four! ” 

As may be imagined, these were given with a will, 
and then Master Roberts announced: 

” Jerry Walters will now chip in with something.” 

It was now ’Lish Davis’ turn to laugh, and he en¬ 
joyed his comrade’s confusion mightily, for it was 
several moments before Jerry could think of the 
proper words. 

Joe Black was called upon immediately afterward, 
and when he had concluded and been given a round 
of cheers, as in the case of the other speakers, the 
driver said gravely: 

“ We who come here to look on have done what 
we could towards making a success of this here 
‘ blow-out,’ and now, according to my way of think¬ 
ing, it ’s time we heard from Mr. Daniel Roberts.” 

The suggestion came in the way of a big surprise 
to Dan, who, while making plans for this entertain¬ 
ment had entirely overlooked the possible fact that 
he might be asked to do that which he the same as 
demanded from others. 

Dan’s friends and acquaintances applauded ’Lish 
Davis’s proposition loudly, and were so emphatic in 


302 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


their calls for him that the owner of the prospective 
Third-Avenue store was absolutely forced to rise. 

“ It ’s what I call a mighty mean trick for you 
fellers to howl ’bout my makin’ a speech, ’cause you 
know we had n’t figgered that any but the ‘ dollar 
visitors ’ would do that. Of course ’Lish Davis an’ 
the rest of the firemen did n’t know, but pretty 
nigh every other feller was posted this afternoon. 
But don’t think you ’ve got me in a hole, though, 
for if makin’ speeches is only talkin’ ’bout Seth, I 
can do that an’ not half try. If it had n’t been for 
him I would n’t have my Third-Avenoo store,—and 
I ’ve got it in my mind all right,—nor Bill an’ me 
would n’t be thinkin’ of goin’ to school, or we 
should n’t be livin’ in the toniest lodgin’s in this 
’ere town. An’ if it had n’t been for him you fellers 
could n’t be settin’ here so near filled up that some 
of you can’t do much more ’n wink. Now ’bout 
this blow-out: I made a trade with the Dutchman 
what runs the place that we should have all we 
could eat for four dollars; but he held to it that we 
must n’t stay more ’n two hours, an’ you can’t 
blame him. A bang-up shop like this can’t be kept 
goin’ all night without somebody’s chippin’ in a 
stack of good money. Now seein’ ’s you fellers 
can’t eat any more, an’ the firemen have all made 
their speeches, I allow we ’d better skin out.” 

Save for this last portion, Dan’s speech would un- 


THE BLOW-OUT 


303 


doubtedly have been greeted with the same amount 
of applause as the others, but the guests were not 
well pleased at being asked to depart at such an 
early hour. 

During several moments there was every indica¬ 
tion that disagreeable remarks might be made, even 
if nothing more unpleasant occurred, and thus the 
harmony of the meeting would be sadly marred. 

Understanding all this, ’Lish Davis came to the 
rescue by saying in a cheery tone: 

Mr. Daniel Roberts has, without knowing it, 
done us of Ninety-four a mighty good turn in bring¬ 
ing the meeting to a close. We ’d feel kind-er sore 
to go before it was all over, and yet we could n’t 
stay many minutes longer because we only had 
leave of absence for three hours, and that time is 
about up. So if you fellows will look pleasant 
we ’ll do the same, and on the day Ninety-four’s 
kid gets appointed to the Department I ’ll set out 
another spread in this same place for every one 
that ’s here to-night.” 

This generous proposition could not have failed 
of its purpose, and Lish’ Davis was cheered to the 
echo, he and his two comrades taking their depart¬ 
ure during the tumult which ensued. 

The entire company escorted Mrs. Hanson’s 
lodgers to their home, and before parting gave 
three hearty cheers and a series of yells in Seth’s 


304 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


honor which aroused, if it did not alarm, the neigh¬ 
borhood, and brought nearly every policeman in the 
vicinity to the scene of the parting. 

Dan and his partners escaped to their room before 
the blue-coated guardians of the city's peace ar¬ 
rived, and from their window watched the small 
throng as it scattered in every direction to avoid 
possible contact with the officers. 

“It 's what I call a howlin' success,’’ Master 
Roberts said in a tone of satisfaction as he turned 
from the window after the last of his friends had 
disappeared. “ It was a big mistake not to have 
had a lot of newspaper fellers there so 's the whole 
thing would be in the mornin’ editions.’’ 

“We can fix that straight enough,’’ Bill replied 
carelessly, as if familiar with such methods. “ I 
know a feller what helps clean up the Herald office 
where all the stuff is wrote out, and I '11 get him to 
print a slat about the blow-out.’’ 

This appeared to satisfy Master Roberts that his 
mistake could readily be rectified, and he gave him¬ 
self wholly up to a review of the late proceedings 
until Seth suggested that they retire. 

“ I had a hard day’s work, an’ it '11 be jest as 
bad, if not worse, to-morrow, so I ’ve got to turn in. ’ ’ 
It’s too bad to wind up so soon,’’ Dan sug¬ 
gested with a sigh ; but Bill finally settled the matter 
by saying: 


THE BLOW-OUT. 


305 


" If you an' I ever expect to have that Third- 
Avenoo store we ’ve got to hump ourselves all the 
time, an’ settin’ up nights ain’t the way to do it.” 

Two minutes later Dan was in bed, and as Seth 
extinguished the gas the former raised himself on 
his elbow to say : 

“ We ’ll have the store jest ’bout the time you 
get into the Department, old man; but you can bet 
the shop will be shut up when ’Lish Davis has his 
blow-out.” 

20 


CHAPTER XVIII. 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 


S ETH BARTLETT ceased to be an “ amateur 
fireman ” when he was admitted to the proba¬ 
tionary class, even though he had not received an 
appointment, and, therefore this narrative was con¬ 
cluded, or should have been, with an account of the 
“ blow-out ” designed and arranged by Dan Roberts. 

In case some of the readers care to know how 
Ninety-four’s kid prospered, however, a brief ac¬ 
count of his doings up to the day when he was 
honored even above any member of his own particu¬ 
lar company, shall be given. 

First, however, let it be said that Dan Roberts 
and Bill Dean did not abandon the idea of going to 
school. 

On the night after the very pleasing entertain¬ 
ment on Chatham Street they set out with Seth, 
and from that time until the Third-Avenue store 
was a reality, they were in regular attendance. 

Even after having engaged in what Dan called 
“ real business,” the partners continued their pur¬ 
suit of knowledge by going to school on alternate 
nights. 

306 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 


307 


Jip Collins gave good proof that he had reformed 
by attending closely to his work, and on the day 
when Messrs. Roberts & Dean purchased the estab¬ 
lishment from the gentleman who did not believe in 
working, he was hired as clerk at wages to be pro¬ 
portionate with the sales. 

Sam Barney disappeared on the day of the 
“ blow-out/' and was not seen by his former ac¬ 
quaintances for nearly eight months, when he sud¬ 
denly showed himself once more, and announced 
that he was “ partners with a city detective.” 

At first this statement was set down as false, but 
in due course of time it became understood that 
there was a glimmer of truth in it, inasmuch as he 
was employed now and then by the detective in 
question to carry messages, and it is possible that he 
may yet compass his desires, providing he can bring 
himself down to hard work and yet harder study. 

It can well be fancied that Seth did not neglect 
his duties after having been admitted to the proba¬ 
tionary class. As a matter of fact he worked so 
hard that more than once was Mr. Fernald forced 
to insist on his “ taking matters easier,” and when 
this advice did not prevail 'Lish Davis was called 
upon to interfere, which he did very effectually by 
commanding the boy's attendance at the house of 
Ninety-four's company at least two hours during 
every twenty-four. 


3°8 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Josh Fernald, for certain reasons which appeared 
to be a secret between himself and several other 
members of the Department had decided that Seth 
should take part in the exhibition drill to be given by 
the Life-Saving Corps on that day when the medals 
were to be awarded, and to such end all his efforts 
were directed. 

After the boy had become so familiar with the 
handling of ladders that they appeared to be little 
more than playthings to him, he was taught, as 
’Lish Davis had explained he would be, how to 
assist in “ building a chain ” with a line of ladders 
from the street to the roof, placed in position by a 
man at each window of the structure. 

The driver had spoken of “ straddling sills,” and 
this name for the work puzzled Seth not a little 
until it came his turn to receive instructions. Then 
he found that it consisted in sitting astride the sill of 
a window, holding himself in place by the pressure 
of his knees much as though he had been in a saddle, 
drawing up one of the climbing ladders and passing 
the hook attached to the upper end into the window 
above. 

This does not appear by the description thus 
given to be a very difficult task, and yet others be¬ 
side Seth have found that it was a lesson extremely 
hard to learn, but once gained the pupil can readily 
make his way from the street even to the roof of a 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 309 

building with no other implements than the two 
ladders. 

The lesson of “ standing on sill ” is always given 
to the pupils in pairs, and before explaining what 
Seth learned in this line it is necessary to describe 
the belt which is worn by members of the Life-Sav¬ 
ing Corps. 

It is broad, made of thick leather, with two stout 
buckles to hold it in place. Directly in front is a 
leathern handle, to which a steel “ snap-hook ” is 
attached by a stout ring, this hook being provided 
so the fireman may fasten himself to a ladder or any 
projection while he works, and is similar to that 
worn by the drivers. On one side of the belt in a 
leathern sheet is a hatchet with a heavy square head 
to be used either as a hammer or an axe, as occasion 
may require. 

When a pupil is instructed in “ standing on sills ” 
he does exactly as the term implies, but on the 
inside of the building is his mate, who holds him in 
place by means of this belt-hook. In such position 
he raises the ladder to the window above, as when 
he was astride the sill. 

Another lesson, which Seth often took, is that of 
coming down a rope alone, or bearing a burden. It 
was not difficult, and, with this particular “ proba¬ 
tioner/’ decidedly exhilarating. 

A rope is made fast to the roof or window, of a 


3io 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


building and two turns of it taken round the hook 
on the fireman’s belt, thus forming a “ brake” to 
prevent too rapid descent. By a pressure of the 
hand just below the hook it is possible for the 
operator to control his speed. In case of bring¬ 
ing down a burden, twice the number of turns are 
taken. 

As a matter of course, Seth was taught to leap 
from the building into a net, and later to aid in 
holding it, in which last exercise he learned that 
’Lish Davis had not spoken falsely when he declared 
it was exceedingly hard work. 

It might not be entertaining to repeat all the 
lessons which Ninety-four’s kid took part in; but 
suffice it to say that by the 1st of May Mr. Fer- 
nald announced that he was as nearly perfect in 
the drill as he could be until after having gained 
greater strength. 

“You will participate in the exhibition, my boy, 
and I am expecting a good showing from you.” 

“ Will Ninety-four’s men be there ? ” Seth asked 
eagerly, trying hard not to show how delighted he 
was by this praise. 

“ Surely; they are to take part in the parade, 
and you can see ’Lish Davis display his skill at 
driving. There are no lack of spectators at such 
exhibitions, and you will show, not only to a vast 
throng of citizens, but the mayor and heads of the 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL . 311 

Department, whether you are worthy of receiving 
an appointment.” 

“ Will that settle matters for me ? ” Seth asked 
in surprise. 

I don’t say you will not be able to get the ap¬ 
pointment without it; but it is an opportunity of 
making a leap directly into the Department, and of 
finding yourself suddenly on equal footing with 
Davis, Walters, or Black, for they are intending to 
make a strong effort to have you assigned to their 
company.” 

Seth hardly needed this incentive to labor, for he 
was already doing all a boy of his age could do; 
but it caused him to feel extremely anxious regard¬ 
ing the final result, and, noting this, ’Lish Davis 
said one evening in a fatherly tone : 

“You are working yourself all up into a snarl 
over the fear of not pulling through, and the result 
will be, if you don’t have a care, that your head 
won’t be of the clearest when the big day comes.” 

“ I ’m not afraid but that I ’ll be able to go 
through with our part of the show all right, but the 
trouble is that I ’ll show up for no more than a boy, 
and that’s what bothers me.” 

“ You can’t pose for anything else, lad, seeing as 
how you are a kid ; but it won’t work against you in 
face of the record. Go ahead as if there was n’t a 
thought in your mind but to show the people how 


312 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


we swarm over a building when the need arises, and 
that ’s all any man can do.” 

“ Where is the exhibition to be held ? ” 

“ On the Riverside Drive. Number 38 is the 
house that ’s been loaned for the occasion, and you 
lads could n’t have a better building on which to 
work.” 

“ Do you mean to say we ’re goin’ to range a de¬ 
cent house ? There ’ll be considerable damage 
done if we have the reg’lar scalin’ ladders; the 
teeth can’t fail to tear away a good bit of the wood¬ 
work.” 

“You ’ll only use the middle row of windows, 
and over the sills of these will be fastened timber 
shields, or casings, so that you can swing your lad¬ 
ders without fear of so much as a pin’s scratch.” 

“ Where are the medals to be presented ? ” 

“ A stand will be built on the Drive, and there 
all the swells will sit. The mayor does the act, 
and after it’s over we poor duffers who have n’t 
particularly distinguished ourselves will give a 
parade and drill. You ’ll see us respond to a call 
in great shape. It ’s always a high time of the 
Department, for it’s the only day in the year when 
we have a chance to show what we can do when 
need comes.” 

The more Seth heard regarding the proposed 
manoeuvres the greater was his eagerness to receive 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 313 

further instruction, and had he been allowed to do 
as he pleased, the class would have drilled not less 
than eighteen hours out of every twenty-four. 

“ Practise as much as you please, Seth, but you 
are out of my jurisdiction now, for I can’t suggest 
any improvement on your work,” Mr. Fernald said, 
but the praise did not prevent this particular “ pro¬ 
bationer ” from spending nearly every moment of 
his time at the drill. 

Then came the night before the eventful day, and 
Seth, who was to sleep at headquarters, had come 
down for a chat with his roommates and the mem¬ 
bers of Ninety-four’s company. 

** You can bet we ’ll be there, Seth,” Dan 
Roberts said emphatically. “ If it had n’t been for 
the show you ’re goin’ to give we ’d bought the 
Third-Avenoo store yesterday; but Bill an’ me both 
allowed it could n’t be done till to-morrow, ’cause 
we ain’t to be cheated out of seein’ how much you 
know ’bout the fire business. We ’ll be right in 
the front row, no matter how much the swells crowd 
for good places. ” 

“ Are you goin’ to act jest like as if you was a 
reg’lar fireman ?” Bill asked, much as if believing 
that would be impossible. 

“ I shall go through the same drill as the others.” 

“ Well, old man, I hope you ’ll get along all 
right, an’ it seems as if you ought ’er after workin’ 


314 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


so hard. Look for us when your crowd gets there, 
an’ you can be certain of havin’ more cheers than 
anybody else, for we ’ll yell ourselves blue in the 
face but that it shall go in good shape.” 

“ Don’t make too much noise,” Seth said plead- 
ingly. “You know I ’m only a boy, an’ there ’ll 
be lots of men who can work all ’round me, so it 
would n’t be jest the thing for me to be cheered 
when I’m the poorest of the lot.” 

“ We know our business,” Dan said decidedly, 
“ and you need n’t worry but that we ’ll do the 
thing up brown.” 

After giving his friends a general outline of the 
exhibition, as he understood it, Seth went to Ninety- 
four’s house, and was there received with an un¬ 
usually hearty welcome. 

“ How are you feeling, kid?” ’Lish Davis asked 
solicitously. 

“ All right.” 

“ Little fidgety about to-morrow’s work ? ” 

“I’m hopin’ I won’t make a fool of myself, of 
course.” 

“You need n’t worry. Josh Fernald says you ’ll 
make as good a showing as any one there, and he 
knows. The only chance of your failing will come 
from borrowing too much trouble. Remember what 
you said to yourself the night the baby was saved: 
‘ A clear head is the next best thing to a ladder,’ 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 315 

and there must n’t be any cobwebs in yours. Don’t 
pay attention to the crowd, but keep in mind that 
you ’re only going through the drill, so’s the com¬ 
missioners can see whether you ’re ripe for an 
appointment.” 

“What are you counting on wearing?” Jerry 
Walters asked in a peculiar tone. 

“ What I ’ve got on, of course, seein’ ’s it’s all 
the decent clothes I own, an’ they belong to you of 
Ninety-four. I ’m countin’ on cleanin’ ’em up in 
great shape, an’ folks can’t see where they’ve been 
mended. Miss Hanson fixed the coat so you 
would 'nt know the sleeve ever had a hole in it.” 

“I ’m allowing the others will shine terrible 
bright.” 

“ They’ve all got new uniforms, an’ are bound to 
look mighty fine.” 

“ You don’t seem to be sulking on account of 
having to wear old togs,” ’Lish Davis said with a 
peculiar twinkle in his eyes. 

“ What would be the use ? I can’t have ’em, an’ 
I ’ll go through my part of the drill jest the same 
as if I was covered with brass buttons.” 

“ It’s coming kind of tough on Ninety-four, eh, 
Jerry ?” the driver asked. “ All hands of us swell¬ 
ing, and our kid rushing around at the head with 
patched trousers ? The boys in the Department will 
think we have n’t earned much money this year.” 


3 l6 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


“ I don’t think you ought ’er feel bad ’bout it if I 
don’t,” Seth said, trying hard to appear uncon¬ 
cerned. “ People will know you have something 
else to do with your money than buy swell clothes 
for me.” 

“ I ain’t so certain about that, my boy. At all 
events we don’t count on taking any chances,” ’Lish 
said with a laugh. “ This ain’t the first time we’ve 
talked about a new uniform, and somehow or other 
the tailor happened around this afternoon with one 
that looks as if it might fit you. Bring it down, 
Jerry.” 

Now Seth understood why this conversation had 
been begun, and, while he was rejoiced by the 
thought that he would be dressed as well as the other 
members of the corps, there was in his mind a certain 
uneasiness about accepting such a favor in addition 
to the many which had been bestowed upon him. 

“ I ’m owin’ Ninety-four so much, Mr. Davis, 
that it ’ll be terrible if I don’t get an appointment 
after all, an’ it would n’t-” 

“You can stop right where you are. This here 
uniform that Jerry is fetching ain’t charged up 
against you, nor it never will be. We reckon on 
having the right to give a present the day you 
graduate, and if it ’ll make you feel half as good to 
wear it as it will us to see you in it, we ’ll be a 
mighty jolly crowd to-morrow.” 



THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 317 

By this time Jerry had returned with the gar¬ 
ments over his arm, and Seth exclaimed as he saw 
them: 

“ Why there ’s a helmet, an’ you’ve had brass 
buttons put on the coat, Mr. Davis! ” 

“ Sure; the helmet belongs to the clothes, and 
on every button you ’ll see the letters * N. Y. F. D.’ ” 
But only one who was really in the Department 
could wear them. ” 

I reckon you can tackle that kind of a job to¬ 
morrow, and if it so be that you get thrown out 
because of not being up in the drill, it won’t take 
long to cut them off.” 

“ Oh, if I should fail! ” and the tears came into 
Seth’s eyes despite all his efforts to keep them back. 

“ You will for a fact, if you get nervous over it. 
A clear head, forgetfulness of everything but the 
drill, and Ninety-four’s kid will have an appoint¬ 
ment, or the promise of one, before this time to¬ 
morrow night.” 

Then ’Lish Davis proposed to walk to head¬ 
quarters with the boy in order to make certain he 
went directly to bed ; the new uniform was wrapped 
carefully in paper, for it was not proposed that Seth 
should put it on until the following morning, and 
then every member of the company shook hands 
with “ their kid,” each giving him some bit of good 
advice. 


3 18 AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 

During the walk the old driver cautioned Seth 
again and again not to speculate upon possible fail¬ 
ure; but to believe he would surely succeed, and 
when the two parted, ’Lish Davis said feelingly: 

“ You ’re a good boy, Seth, and while every one 
of Ninety-four’s crew is your friend, you ’re dearer 
to me than the whole boiling of them. I ’m proud 
of what you have done, and will do to-morrow. 
God love you, my lad.” 

Then the driver turned away abruptly, as if there 
was some particular reason why he wished to hide 
his face, and as Seth wiped the moisture from his 
eyes lest perchance a tear should fall on the new 
uniform, he whispered to himself: 

“ God must love me, even if I am sich a terrible 
duffer, else He ’d never let me run up against 
Ninety-four’s company.” 

During the forenoon of the next day Seth wan¬ 
dered around the gymnasium trying to act upon the 
advice given by his friends in the matter of “ keep¬ 
ing cool,” and then came the time to put on the 
new uniform, for he had been assured by Mr. Fer- 
nald that it was perfectly proper for him to wear the 
helmet and the brass buttons, even though he was 
not a regular member of the corps. 

When all was ready for the march to Riverside 
Drive something occurred which caused the boy 
considerable uneasiness, for, instead of setting out 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 319 

with the members of the corps, he, with six others 
were ordered to fall into line by themselves. 

Fifty firemen, picked members of the Depart¬ 
ment, ranged themselves on either side, in advance 
and behind as an escort, and no less a person than 
Chief Bonner himself took a station at their head. 

Why he was thus separated from the men with 
whom he had practised Seth could not imagine, 
and there came into his mind as the order to march 
was given, the thought that some serious mistake 
had been made—that he was in the wrong place, 
and, therefore, would utterly fail of acting his part 
properly. 

His astonishment and uneasiness increased when 
the squad with their escort, having arrived at the 
Drive, were stationed in line facing the river, with 
the,ir backs toward Seventy-Sixth Street, the Sixty- 
Ninth Regiment Band a short distance behind 
them. 

Why these men, two of whom he had never seen 
before, should with himself be singled out and 
stationed apart from the others, was a mystery 
which Seth failed to unravel, speculate as he might. 

He saw the Life-Saving Corps, in whose ranks he 
should have been, march up and take their station 
not far from the grand stand which was thronged 
with spectators. 

Then, in line with the other engines, he saw 


320 


AN AMATEUR FIREMAN. 


Ninety-four with ’Lish Davis holding the reins, and 
he fancied the driver winked at him in a most 
mysterious manner as he passed. 

A moment later he heard a shrill cry: 

“Hi! Get on to Seth! What’s he standin’ out 
there all by his lonesome for ? ” 

He knew it was Dan who had made this remark; 
but could not see him without changing his position, 
therefore he remained motionless. 

The band was playing, gayly-dressed people were 
watching curiously, and in many cases admiringly, 
the vast number of blue-coated men who represented 
the finest Department in the world, and of all those 
to be seen Seth was, perhaps, the only person 
troubled in mind. 

Some order was given, the boy did not under¬ 
stand what, for he was watching the Life-Saving 
Corps in the hope that some of them, seeing he 
was out of position, would summon him to their 
ranks. 

He saw that some one had arrived at the stand, 
and believed it to be the mayor. 

The little squad and their escort saluted the gen¬ 
tleman by slowly raising their right hands to their 
helmets, and then as slowly lowering them. 

Mechanically Seth copied the example of the men 
on either side of him, and thus, fortunately, had 
not neglected his duty. 


THE EXHIBITION DRILL. 


321 


The music of the band was hushed, the mayor 
began to speak, and as he went on Seth was plunged 
into even greater bewilderment than before. 

“It is the very pleasantest task of my experi¬ 
ence,” said the mayor, “ to acknowledge the great 
debt which New York owes to the Fire Department 
of the city. In our population of two million souls 
there is no one branch of the municipal service 
which renders such valuable services as the Fire 
Department. We are gathered here to-day to do 
honor to a few of the firemen who have rendered 
themselves famous during the year. These men 
have snatched persons from the jaws of death, but 
this is the duty of every fireman. The army and 
navy are called upon to destroy everything, but it 
is your duty to save everything. 

“ We are proud to-day to render you our homage 
for the magnificent manner in which you have dis¬ 
charged your duty all along the line, from the Chief 
down, in all perilous moments, and especially you 
who have been selected by the Department to re¬ 
ceive these medals. This is the most pleasing duty 
I have ever performed.” 

The speech ended, Seth was more positive than 
before that he had made a mistake in position, and 
to his yet further bewilderment, after the mayor had 
handed to the Chief a medal, the latter pinned it to 
his coat—to the uniform which Ninety-four’s com- 


21 


322 


AN AMATEUR E/REMAN. 


pany had presented, probably knowing at the time 
how it would be decorated. 

While this was being done the mayor described in 
detail that which Seth had done when saving the 
baby’s life, and as he concluded a great shout went 
up from the assembled multitude, high above which 
could be heard Dan’s shrill notes. 

Then another medal was given to the Chief, who 
pinned it to the coat of the man standing next to 
the boy in line, the mayor meanwhile explaining 
why it had thus been bestowed, and Seth began to 
understand how greatly he was honored. 

When each of the seven had been decorated, and 
while the throng were cheering themselves hoarse, 
the Chief said in a low tone to Seth: 

“ Mr. Fernald has the official notification of your 
appointment as substitute fireman, and you can get 
it on your return to headquarters. You are assigned 
to Company Ninety-four, and will report to their 
house for duty to-morrow morning.” 

Seth could not speak, and in fact the Chief moved 
away so quickly that there was no chance; but look¬ 
ing up toward where Ninety-four was stationed he 
saw every member of the company waving his hel¬ 
met as if indulging in silent cheering. 

Then he knew they were all in the secret—that it 
would be no news when he told them he was at last 
really their comrade. 



PRESENTING THE MEDALS. 



























































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. 









THE EXHIBITION DRILL . 323 

As to what followed immediately after this, Seth 
had no very clear idea. 

He was not even conscious of how he left the 
squad of men who had just been decorated for their 
bravery, and found himself in his proper station 
among the Life-Saving Corps. 

He hardly heard the order for the drill to be com¬ 
menced, but followed the movements of those 
nearest him until it was as if he forgot everything 
else, and was once more back at headquarters fitting 
himself for what had already been accomplished. 

Over the building which had been loaned for this 
purpose Mr. Fernald’s pupils swarmed, as if clamber¬ 
ing up a smooth surface of brick was a task more 
simple than the ordinary methods of locomotion, 
and each portion of the drill was gone through with 
mathematical exactness. 

Concerning it, ’Lish Davis said to his comrades as 
Ninety-four was hauled into her quarters that even¬ 
ing: 

“ It was a great sight, boys, and what made it 
greater was that not a man among them outdid our 
kid. Josh Fernald himself could n’t go through a 
drill better, and we’ve reason to be mighty proud 
of what that little chap has done.” 

After the Life-Saving Corps had concluded their 
portion of the exhibition, two battalions were 
paraded by the Chief himself, ten engines, two hook 


CK 


324 


AN AM A TEUR . E/REMAN. 


and ladder companies, the water-tower and the fire- 
boat, New Yorker , taking part therein. 

The men first marched past the reviewing stand 
to the music of the band, after which, in response 
to an alarm sounded by the mayor, the engines and 
their crews returned along the Drive at full tilt, 
with fires lighted, whistles blowing, and bells ring¬ 
ing, as if running to a fire. 

During the early part of the evening after the ex¬ 
hibition on Riverside Drive, a boy clad in the full 
uniform of a fireman, wearing on the left breast of 
his coat a handsome gold medal suspended by a 
knot of red ribbon, walked rapidly down the street 
toward the headquarters of Ninety-four engine, and 
a crowd of lads, who might have been bootblacks or 
newsboys, gathered on the sidewalk, cheered him 
loudly as he came in view, after which the senior 
member of the firm of Roberts & Dean shouted 
shrilly: 

** Now let ’s give three more rousers for the sub¬ 
stitute fireman of Ninety-four engine! ” 

And the cheers were given with such a hearty 
will that citizens more than a block away turned 
hastily to ask one of the other why the police 
allowed such a disturbance to be made at that hour. 


THE END, 



LB JL 10 



















































































































































































































































